Voice-in-Wilderness: ALL SAINTS ANGLICAN CHURCH Rochester, NY

Some Notes From Today's Sermon: 1/29/2012

2012-01-29T22:23:00.002-05:00

Sermon: Having True Love and Reverence For the Lord

To genuinely love God means that we truly have reverence for Him: we fear Him. When we truly revere the Lord (as we are meant to do in worship) we are giving Him the honor due His Holy Name: We acclaim Him LORD of all, the only True God, the Holiest of all Holiness, the Supreme Lover of our Souls and in Christ. He is our Saviour, our Master, our Lord: the King of Kings and Lord of Lords! When we revere God for who He truly is... and give Him all the glory... and love Him with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength... THEN we are at the place of humble faith and true estimation of the Majesty and Glory of Almighty God that will lead us into wisdom. Yes, once our attitude of faith in Him and trust in Him and love for Him is honestly expressed in our hearts, THEN (and only then) are we at the place of the beginning of wisdom, heavenly wisdom. In humble faith as we are loving God and revering Him, we become wise. We have holy wisdom!

2011-08-24T11:56:00.001-05:00

VirtueOnline - News - News - TONAWANDA, NY: Anglican church assumes central role in new diocese

News : TONAWANDA, NY: Anglican church assumes central role in new diocese
Posted by David Virtue on 2011/8/16 15:00:00 (646 reads)

TONAWANDA, NY: Anglican church assumes central role in new diocese

By Jay Tokasz
NEWS STAFF REPORTER
http://www.buffalonews.com/city/communities/tonawanda/article521170.ece
August 13, 2011

[Rev. Arthur Ward] When members of St. Bartholomew's Church in the Town of Tonawanda decided in 2008 to leave the Episcopal Church, they didn't know for sure where they fit in the larger structure of Anglicanism.

Less than three years later, the parish has become a pivotal congregation within the Anglican Church in North America, a rival to the Episcopal Church that grew from a rift between theological conservatives and liberal Episcopalians over Bible interpretation and the ordination of a gay bishop.

This week, the congregation served as host for a conference of the International Diocese, the new diocese to which it belongs as part of the Anglican Church in North America.

Friday, Bishop Bill Atwood dedicated St. Bartholomew as the diocese's pro-cathedral, giving the church special significance as the site of the bishop's chair.

Atwood cited the church's role as a stabilizing force in organizing the new diocese, which includes congregations in Kentucky, Missouri, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas, as well as New York State.

"The people here are magnificent," Atwood said. "It's a resource place with great people."

Unlike most dioceses in the Anglican Church, the International Diocese is not regional.

"It's not geographical by definition, but it's based on a shared mission value," said Atwood.

Congregations within the International Diocese have strong connections overseas, which they expect to maintain and enhance.

When the congregation left the Episcopal Diocese of Western New York, for example, the Rev. Arthur W. Ward Jr., its longtime rector, was able to remain an active priest by transferring to the Diocese of Argentina.

The Argentina diocese is part of the province of the Southern Cone in the Worldwide Anglican Communion - a province that was sympathetic to churches in the United States that disagreed with the 2003 consecration of an openly gay bishop.

Provinces in Africa also provided temporary ecclesiastical homes for American priests and congregations that disputed the consecration.

Those provinces "offered us more than a lifeboat," said Atwood. "They offered us life."

Western churches, he added, can learn from the impact that those Anglican churches have had on the cultures of their countries, he added.

For more than 50 years, the St. Bartholomew congregation had worshipped in a sanctuary at 1064 Brighton Road, becoming the largest single parish in the Episcopal Diocese.

After the split with the diocese, members left their church behind and purchased a former synagogue at 2368 Eggert Road.

The move "energized the parish," Ward said. "We got stronger as a result, not weaker."

The Episcopal Diocese attempted to establish a new parish in the Brighton Road site. But when that failed, the diocesan offices were moved there from their longtime location on Delaware Avenue.

"It's ironic," Ward said, "but it's nice that our old place was a blessing to the diocese that they were able to make it their headquarters."

END

Anglican 1000 Replanting Biblical Anglicanism in North America

2011-07-23T07:55:00.001-05:00

Anglican Church in North America

Anglican 1000 Replanting Biblical Anglicanism in North America

“We get to see the fingerprints of what the Lord is doing here in the U.S. and in Canada.”

As the Anglican Church in North America Provincial Council gathered in Long Beach, Calif., The Rev. Canon David Roseberry, chairman of Anglican 1000, and The Rev. Daniel Adkinson, Anglican 1000 associate director, addressed attendees and shared the latest news about the movement.

Father Roseberry reflected on the day two years ago when at his investiture, Archbishop Robert Duncan issued the call for 1,000 new Anglican congregations and communities of faith during his ministry. “You felt that roar of applause,” said Roseberry. “These were words spoken under the Spirit that came to us in power. There was such a reception that that I just felt moved.”

That one line from Archbishop Duncan’s sermon became a strategic Anglican Church in North America initiative with the vision to plant new works to reach North America with the Good News of Jesus Christ.

“All of us have been nurtured by a church,” said Father Roseberry. “We are the beneficiaries of church planting efforts long ago. Anglican 1000 is an effort to return that favor to the future. Our vision is to plant churches and communities of faith that will bring future generations to the Gospel. It’s worth a lot of our money, effort, and attention.”

“We’ve seen church planters step out in faith to replant biblical Anglicanism here in North America,” said The Rev. Daniel Adkinson. “We get to see the fingerprints of what the Lord is doing here in the U.S. and in Canada as well.”

Adkinson reported that Anglican 1000 is currently counting roughly 130 new works, but said there are even more churches that have not yet been reported to Anglican 1000 or are in the process of being planted.

Adkinson said of reaching the Anglican 1000 goal, “By God’s grace, if He moves, we can. It’s about more than the number. It’s about calling people to conversion and transformation.”

(follow this link http://www.anglicanchurch.net/?/main/page/264 for the complete article)

Archbishop’s State of the Church Address: Provincial Council 2011 (excerpts)

2011-06-24T07:21:00.005-05:00

Two years ago we were 706 congregations. The annual parochial and diocesan reports for 2010 – the first year for which we have a system of statistical reporting in place (another provincial milestone) – identify 952 congregations as part of the dioceses of the Anglican Church in North America and its ministry partners. Statistically this represents a 34 percent growth in congregations at the end of the first 18 months of Church life.

We focus on the centrality of local congregations as the “chief agency” of our mission in the Anglican Church in North America.[Article IV of the Constitution] If we are to “reach North America with the transforming love of Jesus Christ” the principal way we will do this is through the local congregation. We say that every Anglican Church congregation is “accountable to the Holy Scriptures, accountable to the Tradition, and accountable for the transformation of society.”

We understand that congregations are where disciples are formed and that it is through congregations that surrounding environments are changed. We have a clarity about all of this – about the absolute centrality of congregations – that allows us to focus as a Province. Bishops, archbishops, dioceses, structures, programs all exist in order to make the local congregation strong.

PHOTOS of the Installation of Bishop Roger Ames

2011-05-02T04:09:00.001-05:00

CLICK the TITLE to go to: Photos of Anglican Diocese of the Great Lakes (ACNA) | Facebook

Moving into a NEW DIOCESE!

2011-04-25T05:22:00.008-05:00

All Saints is moving into a new diocese within the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA). As the Diocese of the Holy Spirit moves toward closure in June, as expected, its parishes and priests are seeking new dioceses for their home jurisdiction. This diocese was a transition diocese for the parishes that were received into the Church of Uganda as the Anglican Reformation began in the U.S. All Saints has explored building a relationship with the Anglican Diocese of the Great Lakes (ADGL). As our Rector contacted the bishop of the ADGL, Rt. Rev. Roger Ames, we found a very warm welcome and an invitation to join their diocese. Our Vestry agreed to accept this invitation. Our bishop, the Rt. Rev. John Guernsey, was pleased to transfer All Saints and Fr. David to our new diocese. Plans for Bishop Ames to be Installed as the bishop of the ADGL are set for Saturday, April 29th. Bishop Ames invited our Rector to participate in the Installation. Fr. David accepted the invitation with great joy and expectation for all that this new relationship offers our parish. Growing the Church with New Life is the emerging theme of parish life and ministries for 2011. This new diocesan relationship holds great promise for our living into this venture. It is with deepest thankfulness that we move from our diocesan relationship with Bishop John Guernsey who has offered our parish and our Rector exemplary Christian love and wisdom through the years we have shared together.
A link with the Anglican Diocese of the Great Lakes can be found here: http://anglicandiocesegrlakes.org/index.shtml

Lenten Focus: Worship and becoming spiritually alive!

2011-03-16T08:08:00.006-05:00

For the first five Sundays in Lent we will be using the 1928 Prayer Book for our Services of Holy Communion. This temporary change is to help us observe our Anglican heritage with the Service that is most commonly accepted throughout our Anglican Church in North America. We will return to our regular Service Booklets on Palm Sunday.

We will be using the Sharing Times after the Service to reflect upon Worship, traditions including those of the early church, Services of Holy Communion, and we’ll study what Holy Scripture tells us about worshiping God.

During our times of Worship, Biblical Preaching throughout Lent will be focused upon becoming spiritually alive. The sermon series is as follows:

March 20 2 Lent Being Born of the Spirit John 3:1-17

March 27 3 Lent GOD IS SPIRIT John 4: 5-42

April 3 4 Lent Really Seeing Spiritually what is Real

John 9:1-41

April 10 5 Lent Spiritually Alive! John 11:1-45

April 17 Palm Sunday Our Spiritual Journey with Jesus

Matthew 26:36—27:66

April 21 Maundy Thursday Chapel at 7 PM

Holy Eucharist and the Last Supper

April 22 Good Friday Tenebrae Service at 7:30 PM

Joint Service at Holy Cross Anglican Church in Webster

April 24 Easter Day Emergence of New Life John 20:1-18

May 1 1 Easter Morning Prayer 1928 Prayer Book

Tom Stone-Lay Preacher

May 8 2 Easter Known in the Breaking of the Bread

Luke 24:13-35

JOIN US as we share in observing a Holy Lent that is spiritually encouraging!

2011-03-05T20:07:00.000-05:00

ASH WEDNESDAY SERVICE
6:30 pm at Holy Cross Anglican Church

Join us for the Imposition of Ashes,

a brief homily shared by Fr. Ambuske and Fr. Harnish,

Holy Communion of the Presanctified Sacrament

Let us begin the observance of a Holy Lent together

615 Bay Rd, Webster, NY

for map please go to the following web address:

http://www.acahome.org/dne/hcross/index.htm

A Peek At Last Week's Offertory Hymn: 2/20/11

2011-02-26T14:23:00.002-05:00

197: Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence
Performed by Fernando Ortega

I hope you enjoy listening to this beautiful hymn as much as I enjoyed singing it!

Thought For the Day: Our God is the Source of all Healing

2011-02-11T23:20:00.000-05:00

Blessed are you, gracious God, source of all healing.
In Jesus Christ you heal the sick
and mend the broken.
He is the source of healing and forgiveness
and of the fullness of life found only in you.
By your Spirit, you come upon all
that we may receive your healing touch
and be made whole,
to the glory of Jesus Christ our Redeemer.
For these and all your mercies, we praise you:
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit:
Blessed be God for ever!

-Book of Common Prayer

Thought for the Day: Be Comforted- The Lord Is Always With You!

2011-02-04T23:26:00.000-05:00

Psalm 27

The Lord is my light and my salvation;
whom then shall I fear?*
the Lord is the strength of my life;
of whom then shall I be afraid?
When evildoers came upon me to eat up my flesh,*
it was they, my foes and my adversaries,
who stumbled and fell.
Though an army should encamp against me,*
yet my heart shall not be afraid;
And though war should rise up against me,*
yet will I put my trust in him.
One thing have I asked of the Lord;
one thing I seek;*
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord
all the days of my life;
To behold the fair beauty of the Lord*
and to seek him in his temple.
For in the day of trouble
he shall keep me safe in his shelter;*
he shall hide me in the secrecy of his dwelling
and set me high upon a rock.
Even now he lifts up my head*
above my enemies round about me;
Therefore I will offer in his dwelling an oblation
with sounds of great gladness;*
I will sing and make music to the Lord.
Hearken to my voice, O Lord, when I call;*
have mercy on me and answer me.
You speak in my heart and say, 'Seek my face.'*
Your face, Lord, will I seek.
Hide not your face from me,*
nor turn away your servant in displeasure.
You have been my helper;
cast me not away;*
do not forsake me, O God of my salvation.
Though my father and my mother forsake me,*
the Lord will sustain me.
Show me your way, O Lord;*
lead me on a level path, because of my enemies.
Deliver me not into the hand of my adversaries,*
for false witnesses have risen up against me,
and also those who speak malice.
What if I had not believed
that I should see the goodness of the Lord*
in the land of the living!
O tarry and await the Lord's pleasure;
be strong and he shall comfort your heart;*
wait patiently for the Lord.

Merry Christmas!

2010-12-25T08:58:00.000-05:00

HYMN
Words: Marcus Aurelius Clemens Prudentius (348-413);
trans. John Mason Neale, 1854 and Henry Williams Baker, 1861
Tune: Divinum mysterium

Of the Father's love begotten,
ere the worlds began to be,
he is Alpha and Omega,
he the source, the ending he,
of the things that are, that have been,
and that future years shall see,
evermore and evermore!

At his word the words were fram'd;
he commanded; it was done:
heaven and earth and depths of ocean
in their threefold order one;
all that grows beneath the shining
of the moon and burning sun,
evermore and evermore!

O that birth for ever bless d,
when the Virgin, full of grace,
by the Holy Ghost conceiving,
bare the Savior of our race;
and the Babe, the world's Redeemer,
first revealed his sacred face,
evermore and evermore!

This is he whom seers in old time
chanted of with one accord;
whom the voices of the prophets
promised in their faithful word;
now he shines, the long expected,
let creation praise its Lord,
evermore and evermore!

O ye heights of heaven, adore him;
angel-hosts, his praises sing;
powers, dominions, bow before him,
and extol our God and King;
let no tongue on earth be silent,
every voice in concert ring,
evermore and evermore!

Thee let old men, thee let young men,
thee let boys in chorus sing;
matrons, virgins, little maidens,
with glad voices answering:
let their guileless songs re-echo,
and the heart its music bring,
evermore and evermore!

Christ, to thee with God the Father,
and, O Holy Ghost, to thee,
hymn and chant and high thanksgiving,
and unwearied praises be;
honor, glory and dominion,
and eternal victory,
evermore and evermore!

The Sacramental Nature of All Things

2010-12-08T00:19:00.000-05:00

From Evangelicals on the Canterbury Trail by Robert Webber:

"A sacramental view of life is not much different from a supernatural view of life. It affirms the mystery of the universe and allows that everything in life is, in one way or another, related to the mystery of the Creator and the Redeemer. For example, I once saw a poster on which were written the words of a Catholic thinker, Teilhard de Chardin: 'Because of creation and even more because of incarnation there is nothing profane for those who know how to see.' That's it, I said to myself, that phrase captures the broadest sense of sacrament. Because God created this world and even more because he actually became his creation, creation itself- its material substance, its history, its events, and even my small history within the whole- is not profane or secular. There is a religious underpinning to life, a purpose to everything, an end when all things will work out all right. Therefore, everything in life points to the center, to Christ the Creator and Redeemer in whom all things, visible and invisible- find their meaning. That's sacrament in its broadest sense. As an evangelical, I already believed this. I simply had not recognized that this was a sacramental view of life. Now I had a name for it."

"I have found in the past that I too was a supernaturalist when it came to the inspiration of the Bible, the deity and resurrection of Jesus, and personal conversion. The practical supernatural dimension of the Christian faith in the sacraments was rejected by me as superstition. I no longer regard the sacraments as magical or pagan. Rather, I have come to believe they are visible means through which the saving and healing action of God through Jesus Christ is communicated to his people. The sacraments do not save us. They are vehicles through which the salvation of the world accomplished by Christ is extended to us. They bring Christ to us and touch us with his healing power....God communicates with us through visible and tangible means. He came to us in an enfleshed form. He was made man and lived among us. Now he continues to act in our lives through those symbols we call sacraments. I can only testify to the power of that experience as one that continually keeps me in Christ and the church."

Musings on the Sacrament of the Eucharist

2010-12-06T23:15:00.001-05:00

From Evangelicals on the Canterbury Trail by Robert Webber:

"I find the presence of Christ to be particularly true for me in the sacrament of the Eucharist. When I used to think of it as my personal sign of faith, I always wondered, 'Did I take it in the right way? Did I properly prepare myself through the confession of my sins to make myself worthy of the bread and wine? Was my faith strong enough to be pleasing to God? Will his wrath come against me because I wasn't serious enough?' All these worries rolled away when I was set free by understanding that the bread and wine are God's symbols of his love toward me. They now speak to me of the mystery of my salvation. Rather than sending me into myself in search of this or that sin to confess, the Eucharist makes me aware that I never have been and never will be worthy. But more than that, the Eucharist tells me that I am acceptable to God because of Jesus Christ. He has done all that needs to be done to make me acceptable to the Father. This is his sign to me of his work for me. I receive this sign in faith and it effects a healing with God, my neighbor, nature, and me. What Christ did for me on the cross is now extended to me. I receive the benefits of his salvation again and again. So the Eucharist has become the sacrament of my encounter with Jesus Christ. He who saved me at the cross continues to extend his salvation to me through the simple and concrete signs of bread and wine."

Thought For the Day: 11/26/10

2010-11-26T22:22:00.002-05:00

Psalm 121

I lift up my eyes to the hills;*
from where is my help to come?
My help comes from the Lord,*
the maker of heaven and earth.
He will not let your foot be moved*
and he who watches over you will not fall asleep.
Behold, he who keeps watch over Israel*
shall neither slumber nor sleep;
The Lord himself watches over you;*
the Lord is your shade at your right hand,
So that the sun shall not strike you by day,*
nor the moon by night.
The Lord shall preserve you from all evil;*
it is he who shall keep you safe.
The Lord shall watch over your going out
and your coming in,*
from this time forth for evermore.

Another Thought For the Day!

2010-11-21T21:25:00.002-05:00

Edmund, King of the East Angles, Martyr, 870
Lord, open our lips,
and our mouth shall proclaim your praise.

Blessed are you, God of all mercies,
you extend forgiveness and aid again and again.
You confront us with the mystery of your grace,
beyond all human comprehension;
you cause us to be merciful in your Name,
that all whom we serve may see beyond us
and find you there.
For these and all your mercies, we praise you:
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit:
Blessed be God for ever!

Thought For the Day: 11/21/2010

2010-11-21T00:17:00.001-05:00

From Psalm 86:
Be merciful to me, O Lord, for you are my God;*
I call upon you all the day long.
Gladden the soul of your servant,*
for to you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.
For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving,*
and great is your love towards all who call upon you.
Give ear, O Lord, to my prayer,
and attend to the voice of my supplications.
In the time of my trouble I will call upon you,
for you will answer me.

Thought for the Day: God Loves and Blesses Those Who Trust in Him!

2010-11-07T00:05:00.004-05:00

From Psalm 36:

How priceless is your love, O God!
your people take refuge under the shadow of your wings.
They feast upon the abundance of your house;
you give them drink from the river of your delights.
For with you is the well of life,
and in your light we see light.
Continue your loving kindness to those who know you,
and your favour to those who are true of heart.

Oct. 10: Enduring for the Sake of Fellow Believers

2010-10-17T07:51:00.002-05:00

We continued today in our study of Paul's letters to Timothy, studying the text 2 Timothy 2:8-15. Fr. David pointed out that in his letters, Paul is writing to Timothy both as an apostle of Jesus Christ to a bishop of the Church and also as a godparent to his godson.

Paul is writing from prison, where he has been sentenced for his preaching. But he is not discouraged, saying "...the word of God is not fettered. Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect...".

"Do you think you are able to help or hurt other Christians?" asked Fr. David. "Do the things you do have an effect on them? How deeply connected are we to the Lord and to others?"

The connection, he pointed out, runs very deep. "Paul writes that he is enduring prison 'for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain salvation in Christ Jesus with its eternal glory.' In other words, Paul is suffering for those he says elsewhere, in his letter to the Ephesians, were chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world, but who haven't yet come to faith.

"Paul himself was therefore chosen, before anything was created, to be Christ's instrument of salvation for many throughout the known world of his time, and his purpose for suffering in jail had little to do with his own life but much to do with the lives and welfare of others, including believers right to the present day who are still reading Paul's letters and experiencing spiritual growth."

Fr. David went on to give some examples of ways Christians can affect each other. Negative effects come through the concept first articulated in the Old Testament of the sins of the fathers being visited on their childen. We see this today in dysfunctional families, where the bad behavior and example of parents has an inevitable effect on the children, sometimes continuing
for generations.

In another example, the author Ann White writes in her book Healing Adventure of her need to go and make peace with a person she'd been unwilling to forgive before she could pray effectively for healing for her asthmatic son.

"We ARE connected with the Lord and one another," Fr. David continued. "We can have a positive and holy effect. As we read in James 5:16, 'the prayers of a righteous person avail much,' and when we're living a better life, we're really doing that for others.

"There's an old saying -- 'Jesus first, others second, yourself last spells J-O-Y'. When we lift up others we lift up ourselves too. Even the knowledge that our lives are of eternal value to those around us also lifts us up when we're called to suffer for the sake of the elect. And when we feel
weak, if we're open about that, God will assert his strength in us. Praise the Lord!"

Thought for the Day: October 3, 2010

2010-10-03T04:44:00.003-05:00

"Does God Want Us to Suffer?" addresses some commonly held beliefs among Christians. Here are some valuable thoughts from the article, which specifically addresses physical pain, but is just as applicable to emotional pain as well:

"Today, people often respond to others’ pain with clichés: “Everything happens for a reason,” or, “God won’t give you more than you can handle,” glossing over the hard realities of pain in favor of the lessons to be learned."

"Our culture operates under the assumption that “pain is gain” (and that an inability or unwillingness to bear it is a character flaw)."

"Certainly, the Cross demonstrates that pain can be redemptive, and many of us can relate experiences whereby pain led to positive transformation (though such transformation often comes once pain is relieved, because in the midst of severe pain, it’s hard to do much of anything besides be in pain). Christ’s suffering also helps us to know that when we suffer pain, God actually does know how we feel."

"Yet the abundant stories of Jesus' healings also suggest that God understands how pain can limit human flourishing, especially when it leaves people unable to participate in essential human activities (family and community life, work, rest) and disconnected from their true selves."

Click on the article title to read the full piece.

Sept. 26: Final Retribution: Heaven or Hell?

2010-09-28T17:57:00.007-05:00

"The love of money is the root of all evils." Everyone has heard this saying (although some incorrectly shorten it to "Money is the root of all evil") but not so many know that it was originally written by St. Paul to Timothy, his "son in the faith".

In our Gospel lesson this Sunday, we considered a parable of Jesus that graphically shows us the outcome of an "in money we trust" attitude -- Luke 16:19-31, the story of Lazarus and the rich man.

Jesus was instructing his disciples about money and some Pharisees were listening and scoffing. Luke characterizes them as "lovers of money" and records Jesus' response to them: "You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of men, but God knows your hearts. What is highly valued among men is detestable in God's sight." (Luke 16:15) Jesus then goes on to tell the story of the beggar Lazarus and the rich man at whose gate he lay.

The story goes like this: A rich man, wearing the best clothes of purple and fine linen, feasted sumptuously every day. Lazarus, a beggar covered with sores, lay at the rich man's gate desiring to be fed with what fell from the rich man's table as dogs licked his sores.

One day Lazarus died and was carried by angels to Abraham's bosom. The rich man also died and woke up in hell. Looking up he could see Lazarus and Abraham far away and, calling to Abraham, he asks him to send Lazarus down to cool his mouth with some water.

Abraham reminds the rich man that he got all his good things while he was on the earth, whereas Lazarus had gotten only evil things, and now their situations were reversed. The rich man then begs Abraham to send Lazarus back from the dead to warn his five brothers, but Abraham says that even if someone were to rise from the dead, the rich man's brothers would not be convinced.

We know this is a parable rather than a literal description of heaven and hell because we know that eternal life in heaven isn't dependent on our deeds, but on our acceptance of the unmerited favor of God. Deeds, however, are a reliable gauge of how we stand in our spiritual life. "Our resources and gifts are for the purpose of loving God and our neighbors," explained Fr. David. We are, like Abraham, "blessed to be a blessing".

We also need to be sensitive to the context: Jesus was talking to two audiences at once. To the Pharisees, he was telling a story about values under the Law, while at the same time he was preparing his disciples for a harder truth about their future.

Fr. David pointed out that the parable has three themes. First, how we fare on earth determines how we fare in the afterlife. Second, God will balance and make things right. Third, every person has a choice.

First theme: In the parable, Abraham tells the rich man that he had his good things while he was on the earth. Throughout his earthly ministry, Jesus warned people to be careful where they were taking their rewards. In the Sermon on the Mount, he said, "...when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have their reward in full." (Matthew 6:5) By denying himself nothing, the rich man chose the part of his eternal life that would be the easiest, and that was the part that was the shortest -- his life on earth.

Second theme: "God isn't interested in our intentions -- we know the way good intentions pave, and that's the way to hell," Fr. David said. "God is interested in our actions. Do we love God with our whole hearts and our neighbor as ourself? It's on these actions that our final retribution will be based."

He pointed out that the rich man recognized Lazarus in the afterlife and even called him by name. One can easily imagine the rich man believing he was being kind to Lazarus by allowing the beggar to lie at his door and forage in his rubbish, and even perhaps by saying hello to him as he came and went from his fine house. The rich man certainly fits with the unrighteous Jesus speaks of in Matthew 25, who are told at the judgment that they failed to give the Lord food, drink, clothing or help and they respond, "Lord, when did we see you (in these situations) and not help you?" Respectors of persons to the very last breath, just like this rich man who apparently saw himself as Lazarus' benefactor.

"Even in the most dire circumstance of waking up in hell, the rich man's thoughts still revolve around himself," Fr. David continued. "He didn't lift a finger to help Lazarus on earth, but expects Lazarus to come down to hell and put a finger of water on his tongue, to cool it. Just as Sartre would later describe it, the rich man feels his needs and wants are more real and legitimate than anyone else's -- that he's the only person with a full thought life and everyone else is lesser. He even argues with Abraham, patriarch of all the Jews, about what Abraham should be doing for him. The sad truth here is that people will continue to justify themselves even in the face of final retribution."

Third theme: "Is life like the old advertising slogan -- 'You only go around once, so go for the gusto'? Should we really 'look out for Number One'? Who is 'Number One' in our lives?" The rich man thought he'd be judged on the basis of his social status ("Whoever dies with the most toys, wins.") and when he found out that the standards were much different, he begged Abraham to send Lazarus back from the dead to warn his five brothers before they made the same mistake.

Abraham's response, that if the rich man's family didn't heed the warnings they already had from the Law and the prophets, then they wouldn't heed anyone who would rise from the dead, was Jesus' way of preparing his disciples for their own lives after his resurrection and ascension. That his chosen people, represented that day by the Pharisees, would in large measure fail to heed even the message he would provide as the firstfruits of eternal life.

In summing up, Fr. David quoted theologian John Piper: "If during our time on earth we pursue things instead of God, then earth will be the extent of our heaven and eternity our hell. But if during our time on earth God is our treasure, then earth will be the extent of our hell and eternity our heaven."

Let us always keep before us the One who came back from the grave to show us the way to heaven. "Blessed be the Lord, who daily loads us with benefits. Selah." (Psalm 68:19)

Notes: Parish annual meeting is Sunday, Nov. 14.... We're developing program topics and lessons for congregant-led after-service discussions during our coffee hour. More information to follow.

How's your religious knowledge?

2010-09-28T17:46:00.006-05:00

Making headlines today: if you want an accurate answer on questions about religion, ask an atheist.

That's what The Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life has concluded after surveying over 3,000 Americans of all faiths and no faith. Atheists and Mormons scored highest on the survey; Protestants, not so much. How about you? Click this post's title to read the full analysis of their findings, and click here to take a sample quiz of 15 questions from the full 32-question survey.

Thought for the Day: September 27, 2010

2010-09-27T20:02:00.002-05:00

"Suffering. It’s the one thing that will enable you and me to grow."

So says the author of a recent blog post on Internetmonk.com called "Spiritual Formation: The Plain, Hard Truth." The Bible gives numerous examples of suffering which ultimately lead to great benefits, spiritual and otherwise. There are times when it seems as if God is hiding from us, and we suffer all the more because of it. But if we pass through those difficult times with Christ, and thus sharing in His sufferings, we will come out having grown spiritually.

Check out the article at:

"Spiritual Formation: The Plain, Hard Truth."

Sept. 12: God's perfect patience and mercy are meant to reach us

2010-09-17T10:52:00.015-05:00

On this day we remembered in prayer those who lost their lives nine years ago in the deadliest terrorist attack on our soil, offering continued prayers for their family members and friends.

Fr. David began his sermon by pointing out how often the Bible presents stories of rescue and sacrifice -- two in the day's Gospel reading alone, the parables of the lost sheep and the lost coin found in Luke 15:1-10.

"Among the lasting memories of 9/11 are the heroic stories of self-sacrifice, for example the heroes aboard United 93, and of rescue, such as we saw in the brave response of New York's firefighters and police.

"In the Bible, Jesus is God's rescue worker. In our second reading (I Timothy 1:12-17), Paul makes this plain when he writes: 'The saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. And I am the foremost of sinners; but I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience for an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life.'

"You know, when Paul calls himself 'foremost of sinners', we have to wonder if that's an act of pride or of humble faith. What do we know about Paul before his conversion on the Damascus road, when he was still called Saul?

"We know that Saul was pedigreed in Judaism and very proud. In our reading passage he lays claim to being a blasphemer, a persecutor, and a violent aggressor, and also that he was ignorant in his unbelief.

"How was Saul a blasphemer? Well, primarily, it was because he took upon himself the job of speaking for God rather than letting God be God -- something like 'healers' who blame the afflicted when healing fails to occur or false prophets with their 'listen to me; I have the answers' attitudes.

"Saul was a blasphemer because he thought by killing the followers of Christ he could stop things from changing, even though the change was ordained by God. He was full of arrogance and pride.

"Saul was also a persecutor and aggressor, zealous to avenge what he saw as Christians' defiling of God's honor. He presided at stonings where people were being killed for no other reason than belief in Christ, and he was proud of it and proud of the honor he received from those casting the stones.

"Spiritually, it was the same as if he was a tormentor of Christ's at the crucifixion. Saul stood and watched as St. Stephen, just before giving up his life, repeated the words of Christ: 'Lord, do not hold this sin against them,' (Acts 7:59) and yet he was not troubled and was happy to receive the tribute of the mob afterward.

"In his own defense, Paul writes that at the time he 'acted ignorantly in unbelief'. So this begs a question, which is whether we can blame people for vigorously doing wrong if they believe they're doing right? We can, because at heart this wrong comes from turning to one's own way versus stopping and asking God the right thing to do.

"Fortunately for Saul, and for us, and even for our enemies, the Lord has perfect patience. He sees goodness in us when it isn't apparent and gives mercy when we least deserve it. How close was Saul to blaspheming the Holy Spirit, and how merciful was God toward him to stop him in his tracks and transform his life?

"If Saul could be forgiven for having no faith, for being arrogant, cruel, and merciless, how much more forgiveness is available even to our enemies, and how does God's patience and mercy affect our own feelings toward everyone around us?

"How can we offer forgiveness and mercy to each other and even to those we don't like at all, recognizing that the Lord is still seeking all who are lost? Governor Bradford of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, upon seeing prisoners going off to jail, famously said, 'There but for the grace of God go I.' We're works in progress -- God isn't finished with us yet, but we can be encouraged by Saul's miraculous transformation into St. Paul through the perfect patience and mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ. Praise the Lord!"

Off message?

2010-09-14T16:32:00.013-05:00

A few days ago in The New York Times, a blog post called "Mystery and Evidence" by Tim Crane opined:

When Christians express their belief that "Christ has risen", for example, they should not be taken as making a factual claim, but as expressing their commitment to what Wittgenstein called a certain "form of life," a way of seeing significance in the world, a moral and practical outlook which is worlds away from scientific explanation. (Bolding
mine.)

What the... what? I mean, I'd agree when we make the claim we aren't trying to explain the event scientifically, since one of the many things Christ did in addition to justifying us to God Perfect and Eternal was to break the shell of human knowledge and show us, as Shakespeare so perfectly said, "There are more things in heaven and earth... than are dreamt of in your philosophy." But that doesn't change the fact that a huge percentage of Christians -- those who are orthodox -- are, indeed, making a factual claim when they say "Christ has risen."

When we fail to make it plain that this is, in fact, our claim -- when we stop placing emphasis on "Christ the firstfruits" of our eternal life in resurrected bodies perfect and outside the laws of physics, then we are reduced to discussing the relative merits of ethical systems -- are we correct in emphasizing that evil thoughts are the same as deeds, or are Jews correct that only deeds count? Which faith's rules of behavior do we like best? A paltry portion indeed compared to what God has actually prepared for us.

And more to the point, there's little in a discussion of ethics that can possibly captivate non-believers. The atheists claim "you don't need God to be good," and aside from the quibble that you can't be good 24/7 with or without God, any thinking person can go right down that road with them. The only problem being it's not the road that leads to factual eternal life.

It's imperative to be unequivocal in affirming the factual content of our belief, even when the facts stretch the boundaries of what we think we know. We don't need to get wound up in internal discussions such as that between Episcopal Bishop John Shelby Spong and the Rt. Reverend Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury, in which Spong accused Williams of pretending to believe in the resurrection and Williams responding that he's really more conservative.

On the other hand it really isn't new news, is it? Even among the earliest Christians there was waffling and stumbling in this matter, according to St. Paul:

"How say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? ... For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: and if Christ be not raised, then your faith is in vain; ye are yet in your sins. Then they also who have fallen asleep in Christ are perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable." (I Corinthians 15:12, 16-19)

Let's do our best not to waffle or stumble when proclaiming the fact of Christ's bodily resurrection. Let's not cave before the demands or ridicule of those who adhere to the limited subset of human knowledge we call science. Yes, the resurrection is a "mystery" -- the Bible even says so. But it's also an awesome fact.

Are churches creating "fake Christians"?

2010-08-30T18:13:00.004-05:00

If you're the parent of a Christian teenager, Kenda Creasy Dean has this warning:

Your child is following a "mutant" form of Christianity, and you may be responsible.

Dean says more American teenagers are embracing what she calls "moralistic therapeutic deism." Translation: It's a watered-down faith that portrays God as a "divine therapist" whose chief goal is to boost people's self-esteem.

Click the post title to read the entire article on the CNN website.

August 15: The ACTION of Living by Faith

2010-08-21T07:45:00.000-05:00

Text: Hebrews 11:29-12:2

"We all want to do things and intend to do them, but then sometimes we forget. Sometimes we have bad habits, like procrastinating or else failing to finish what we start. Other times we veer off course by forgetting the reason it was important to do the thing in the first place. Or we can try stubbornly to find an easier way to do it," Fr. David enumerated as he began our Sunday meditation.

The passage in the Book of Hebrews we were considering was written to a church that had grown tired and, for one reason or another, was no longer vigorously pursuing its mission. In order to rally these believers, the author of Hebrews recounts many old-time heroes of faith. The implication is that the heroes faced harder struggles than the contemporary readers but still persevered.

The Israelites were able to breach and overrun the fortified walls of Jericho because they were obedient to God regardless of the unusual tactics they were commanded to use. "They weren't stubborn and didn't look for an easier or even more logical way to meet the foe," Fr. David explained. "God told them to march around the city blowing trumpets for seven days, and on the last day to end with a shout! I think what they shouted was probably 'hosanna', but whatever it was, when the Lord gave them the way forward and the task at hand, they didn't procrastinate, or equivocate, or fail to finish. They acted with faith in Him and this is what God also desires of us."

Rahab, a resident of Jericho, also appears in the roll call of heroes. Rahab, a Canaanite prostitute, doesn't seem like a person God would call to be a hero. In fact, she seems like what another of the day's texts would call a "wild grape". Isaiah 5:1-7 presents a parable of a vineyard planted and tended on a fertile hill, but instead of juicy grapes it yielded only hard little wild grapes. Many times throughout scripture we are shown instances where the Lord seeks to bless His chosen ones, but people who were less "choice" serve Him instead. Thus, Rahab.

"Rahab understood that nothing would stand in the way of God's will and decided she would assist with His plan even though it meant changing her loyalties. She hid the Israelite spies and even lied to save their lives. And she also made a bargain that she and her family would be spared when the invasion finally came," said Fr. David.

"We'll have to reconcile the lie (and the manifest flaws in all the heroes of faith listed in Hebrews). Rahab and the others exercised a faith that transforms sinners -- restores, heals and honors them. In her case, her honor was to later become the great great grandmother of King David and a member of the lineage of Jesus Christ. She became great through her great faith."

Fr. David next drew our attention to verses in Hebrews that "sometimes get skipped over. We're told that we're united with the saints who went before us, but that 'apart from us they should not be made perfect'. There's something we need to do for them. What could that possibly be?"

Theologian John Piper interprets this as follows:

I take verse 39 to mean that when the believers in the Old Testament died, their spirits were made whole and perfect (as 12:23 says), but they do not receive the full blessing of God's promise, which is resurrection with new bodies in a glorious new age with all God's enemies removed and righteousness holding sway and the earth filled with the glory of God. They did not receive that promise yet.

Why not? Why must the saints wait, without their new resurrection bodies? The answer is given in verse 40: 'Because God has provided something better for us, so that apart from us they should not be made perfect'. In other words, God's purpose is that all his people -- all the redeemed -- be gathered in before any of them enjoys the fullness of his promise. His purpose is that we all come into the fullness of our inheritance together.

Because of this, the writer of Hebrews concludes, we need to "run with perseverance the race set before us" -- in other words, not neglect the harvest or our witness -- "looking to Jesus... who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross".

"The Lord's desire," Fr. David concluded, "is that we should 'get it'. See the eternal importance of the task before us, forget what lies behind and focus on the prize before us, that multitudes would come to a saving knowledge of Christ. This is God's will. This is what the heroes of faith are desiring for us, that the great task might be complete. Let's renew our faith, strongly commit to the ACTION of living by faith and go forth to serve the Lord, Amen."

Some words of encouragement

2010-08-15T07:53:00.001-05:00

My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so. But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you. And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing. I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire. And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road, though I may know nothing about it. Therefore I will trust you always though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death. I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you will never leave me to face my perils alone.

-Thomas Merton

8/1/10: Today's Sermon (based on Colossians 3:1-11) Having a Heavenly Focus

2010-08-01T15:34:00.006-05:00

Today's post is a transcription of today's sermon. Enjoy!

"Heavenly perspective- seeking the things that are above, setting our minds on things above- that's what Christians need encouragement to do. It's something we often neglect. There is a different attitude, a focus, a perspective, in the Christian reality. We often lose and forget that, and misunderstand the Christian reality of what it is to be focused on heavenly things.

"Our passages today encourage us to set our minds on things above. This passage from the third chapter of Colossians has a pre-amble to it, in the second chapter. 'If with Christ you died, to the basic principles of the universe, why do you live as if you still belonged to it?' Colossians 2:20. If we've been raised with Christ, we ought to be setting our minds on heavenly things, and not earthly things. Let's set our minds on heavenly things first so we can live and take advantage of the earthly things. We can't do it otherwise. We need to think of heavenly things, Godly things, first, in order to have any kind of meaningful life here on earth. Otherwise, we're going to be depressed, severely challenged, in the muck and mire of this world, and wondering what in heaven's name is going on. And it's because we're missing what it means to be a Christian, to live in a Christian reality, and the difference that it makes... not what it should make but does make. Just wake up, smell the heavenly roses, if you will. And know the reality of Christ in the midst of us and the mystery of all of life, and that is Christ in you- the hope of salvation! We've got the realities of heaven already available as a Christian. By virtue of the Lord Jesus Christ and our faith in Him, we are raised to virtue and to heavenly things. By virtue of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the deathblow that Jesus dealt, we know that nothing can hold Him, not even death, not the devil, nothing can hold Him down. He was raised up and you also ought to have that attitude, that reality, in your life as a Christian believer.

"'If then you have been raised with Christ.' Are we raised with Christ? Well, have you been baptized as a Christian? The reality of baptism, whether the church is living it out or not, is that we're buried with Christ in baptism, and we're raised with Christ, through faith and by the power of the Holy Spirit. And baptism isn't a one time experience of a ritual- it is a reality, everyday, of being immersed in Christ. And we know that baptism of water and baptism of fire, of the Holy Spirit, is a reality in our Christian lives. What's wrong with us that we smother ourselves when the Holy Spirit's so available? You can't be the same old, same old person. A transformed way of thinking, of approaching life is so readily available to us through faith. You know, so why do I keep going back to the same, old, same, old, so-so life. But transformed thinking is available to me and to you through the renewal of our minds in faith. We have: a new vantage point, a new outlook, a new way of looking at life, a new way of looking at myself, a new way of looking at God, even; a new way of looking at other people. Yes, indeed, then what's the matter with you that you keep doing it the same old way?

"Here's our viewpoint as a new creation: 2 Corinthians 5:16-17 'From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh, even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh.' You mean that people can look at Jesus and only think about historical matters, or just the un-spiritual aspects of Jesus Christ? But there's more! We have an attitude and a perspective that needs to be transformed, and they're saying, 'Ours has been transformed, from now on, therefore, regard no one according to the flesh, even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard Him thus no longer. Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.' That's what goes before that verse, by the way. You want to celebrate being a new creation? Well there's a transformed way of looking at life too that goes with this. And it's imperative for us as Christians. The old has passed away, behold the new has come.

"OK, about the renewal of the mind, about the need for transformation, because we have our minds so warped and flawed by this world that we're pretty well trapped. We are trapped, that is, if we don't wake up and pray for help and ask for deliverance from the Lord, and ask the Holy Spirit to come in and do spring cleaning. 'Do not be conformed to this world.' That's not just a suggestion, it's a mandate. 'Do not be conformed to this word, but be transformed, by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good, and acceptable and perfect. For by the grace given to me, I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God assigned him.' (Romans 12:2-3). Can you imagine what it's like to consider yourself, and consider the way that you're looking at life through faith instead, and therefore have your thinking transformed by the renewal of your mind? But you're going in the same circles most of the time, and those circles make ruts. So we're supposed to spiritually have the mind of Christ, 1 Corinthians 2:16. Chapter 2 of 1st Corinthians goes through this whole thing of having a carnal way of looking at life and having a spiritual way of looking at life, and you know the two are not compatible. And you've got to figure out where you're going to be living. What are you taking as your focus in life? 1 Corinthians 2:14-16 'The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foreign to him.' He is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. 'The spirit of a person judges all things but is himself to be judged by no one. For who has understood the mind of the Lord as to instruct Him? But we hold the mind of Christ.' It's not just automatic. It's not just most of the time. You have the mind of Christ as you pray, as you read Scripture and let the Word of God minister, as you seek to live your Christian faith and not just report that that's what you are doing, but that you're actually living it. Then indeed we begin to gain the mind of Christ, looking at life through the eyes of Jesus, through the heart of Jesus... letting yourself be transformed, a new creation! There is a difference, and that's the point, there is a difference in attitude and outlook and focus, depending on where we're looking first. And we're commanded, it's imperative, that we consider heaven first. 'If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is.' We think the Lord of Light, Jesus Christ, is in heaven now. We're meant to have fellowship with Jesus in heaven now, as He is seated at the right hand of God. He's been raised, and so are we, through Him, in Him, with Him. Are we spending time with the risen Lord Jesus or the Jesus of Good Friday only?

"Seek things that are above. Here's our action, here's our response to this Christian reality. 'Set your mind on things above, not the things that are of earth.' We tend to get complacent about our faith, but first we need to set our minds on things that are heavenly so that we can see afresh, see with a heart of love, see prayerfully what we should do here on earth, from a Christian perspective, not from a judgmental, self-centered perspective. As Philippians 4:8 says, 'Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is anything excellent, if there is anything worthy of praise, think on these things.' We have a junk diet, otherwise.

"So we're seeing with the spirit and the heart of Christians. Focused on heaven and not conformed to this world. And so we're looking for heavenly wisdom and seeking to have a spirit that discerns.1 Corinthians 2:6-10 'Among the mature we do impart wisdom, although it's not a wisdom of this age, or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to pass away. But we impart the secret, hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before He gave us our Lord. None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. As it is written: No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived, what God has prepared for those who love Him. But God has revealed it to us by His Spirit.' Are you in a position in your spiritual life, in your reading of Scripture, in your thinking, so that you are available to God so that He can reveal to you the wisdom He wants to bring to you?

"The application of this message is that we would be praying, reading Scripture, daily, and we would be applying our faith, daily... that we would ask: Lord, did I get it right this time? How can I do better, Lord? How can I honor You with the gifts and the life that You've given to me? And this passage says take certain action, folks. You have to put something to death. And if you don't, it's going to keep coming alive, taking and holding you captive. It's going to keep raising its lousy head, and have to be beaten down. And so, I say, give it a Christian burial. There are certain things that are plaguing you. Yours are probably a little different from mine. So... do what we need to do about this? We need to put to death the things and the attitudes and habits that are holding us down and keeping us in sin. Don't keep making excuses for yourself or keep going back to those places in your habits, your affections, or in your attitudes and emotions. That's what it's talking about here. There are two levels of what to put to death that are brought to light in Colossians 3. Some are activities and affections, while others are attitudes and emotions. Some of the emotions included are anger, rage or wrath, malice, which is holding deep-seated anger or resentment, slander, and foul talk, even those little jokes that are off, those are foul talk for a Christian. And it says do not lie to each other, that means even white lies. It's got to be put to death, these habits that ruin us. And they can be put to death, hallelujah!

"You know what I mean by Christian burial? Romans 6:3-4 'Do you not know that all us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?' We were baptized in the death of Jesus Christ on the cross. Death to sin. Death to death. 'We were buried, therefore, with Him, by baptism into death.' The old self, ways, habits, the same old, same old. They're supposed to be dead now. So, we give it a Christian burial. Let it die... because there is more for life, for living, for the sake of freedom for your soul and your life in Christ. 'So it is Christ was raised from the dead, that by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.' That's what it's all about: so that we can walk, not in the same old ruts, but in newness of life. We are Heaven-bound, not just aiming at heaven, but entering into heaven... living in the kingdom of God, entering as children, a child of faith, the children of God.

"And then it says not only according to death, but we need to take some action here. Not just saying, it's all got to be gone, as a Christian it's supposed to be, and I don't know why it's still around here. We are also to put on the new nature, Christ in you. So... we examine or thoughts and actions: Would you be sharing these thoughts with Jesus? Would you be going there with Jesus? We are to even put on (clothes our selves and our actions with) real, deep compassion. You know, it's interesting that this passage (Colossians 3:1-11) was selected for today, and it especially focuses on what needs to be put to death. However, you go a few more verses, 12-17, are all the good things that we're supposed to be doing is offered. The synopsis of this part of the passage is: put on real, deep compassion. Put on holiness, let it sink into your life, being forbearing, and forgiving, and loving, and in peace. This is what it means to have knowledge after the image of our Creator, being made in the image of God, a new creation in Christ. Like the clay would say to the potter, 'You go ahead and shape me, because I've made a mess of it all. Form me, break me down, and re-shape me. Go ahead, have your way. Be glorified, even in this servant.' That's the place where Christ is all, and Christ is in all. This is what Christ through our souls is longing to bring us to. May we respond, in Jesus' name, Amen.

BEING ESTABLISHED IN THE FAITH

2010-07-20T11:28:00.006-05:00

What is God’s answer to the deadliness and troubles we experience on a daily basis?

We, who are believers in the Lord Jesus, are actually accosted by the onslaught of the philosophies, words and actions of those in our culture who are not god-fearing people.

We are either keenly aware of this fact or we are ‘numbed out’, yet without question the Christian Believer is in the midst of spiritual warfare daily, just as the Scriptures point out:

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we are not contending against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Ephesians 6:10-13

Indeed, we do need our thinking transformed and our whole way of approaching the challenges of our lives these days transformed. The Bible tells us that the way our outlook is transformed is by the renewing of our minds in Jesus, as stated in Romans 12:2

Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may prove what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Reading the Scriptures and being prayerful (filled with prayer) are two actions that need to be pursued in order for us to be faithful (faith filled). Meditating upon God’s Holy Word and practicing daily prayerfulness help us to remain steadfast so that we can be ‘more than conquerors’(Romans 8:37) through Jesus who loves us with holy love (agape).

What will help us in the midst of the philosophies and opinions that are so empty, yet which seek to make us their prey? We need to become ‘established in the faith’ (Col.2:6).

Come, join us this Sunday as we reflect together on God’s Holy Word about these matters.
Our message this Sunday is based upon Colossians 2

As therefore you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so live in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. See to it that no one makes a prey of you by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the universe, and not according to Christ.

May God bless you with New Life and with renewed strength for living in Jesus Christ.

In Christ, David+

All Religions Are Not the Same, and Why It Should Matter, Even to the Secular World

2010-05-05T18:11:00.005-05:00

All religions are not the same, and even minor differences can make a big difference in how we act. Many in the secular world seem to believe that all religions are essentially the same and if we could somehow understand that, no one would fight any more. But this is a dangerous belief, says Wall Street Journal writer Stephen Prothero. He says "denying differences is a recipe for disaster." No problems are solved by telling people they are actually the same. Instead understanding and acceptance of differences is the first step toward agreeing to disagree. Very relevant reading in today's political climate, and refreshing to see that someone actually understands that religious people are not all the same. Check it out here:

"A Dangerous Belief" by Stephen Prothero

And take a look at the Boundless blog's take on the article:

"Do All Paths Lead to the Same Truth?" by Heather Koerner

A Thought-Provoking Study Challenges Christians' Beliefs About Worship

2010-04-26T16:38:00.004-05:00

I just recently ran across this article, and it struck a chord with me. I love All Saints because of its liturgical service and connection to a long church history. Now a liturgical service is emotional in a way, but its aim is not to cause strong emotions, but rather to teach and edify. But I was raised in churches that put a premium on the feelings that the worship service inspired in them as being indicative of how much of an "encounter" they were having with God. Now a scientific study provides some indication of just how much of religious emotional experience is actually brain chemistry. Take a look at this sure-to-be-controversial article here:

"The End of Christianity As We Know It" by Mark Galli

Church news, 4/1: "Passion Week"

2010-03-30T16:45:00.010-05:00

On Palm Sunday, March 28, along with the Blessing of the Palms, we reviewed the events of Passion Week beginning with the first Palm Sunday. Fr. David first pointed out that Jewish timekeeping differs from ours and relates to Genesis 1: "the evening and the morning were the first day." For Jewish people, the new day begins when the old one ends, at sunset, and we have to remember this difference when looking at the events of Passion Week.

He also mentioned that all the significant events of the week happened either in Jerusalem, in Bethany (home of Lazarus, Mary and Martha, two miles away), or on the way from one town to the other. Jesus had raised Lazarus from the dead quite recently and people were curious to see him for themselves. The Gospel of John states:

Meanwhile a large crowd of Jews found out Jesus was there (in Bethany) and came, not only because of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well, for on account of him, many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and putting their faith in him. (John 12:9-11)

"As we look at the events of the week, notice how sacred the Scriptures are to Jesus -- how he carefully and knowingly honors all the Scriptures as he instructs the disciples to prepare for His triumphal entry into Jerusalem on Sunday, just for one example," Fr. David pointed out. He added that the Palm Sunday procession was at once an instance of charismatic worship, with cries of "Hosanna" ("Save us, Lord"), but at the same time, "while the people were celebrating, Jesus was weeping over Jerusalem and the Temple, knowing as he did what was to happen later in time."

Two events are recorded for Monday of Passion Week: the cursing of the fig tree for its lack of fruit, representing Israel, and the cleansing of the temple. "This was the second cleansing of the temple, in which Jesus drove out people making money from worship by selling animals for sacrifice. Jesus reminded them that God desired the Temple to be a 'house of prayer' (Isaiah 56:7) and already told them their sacrifices were meaningless without repentance (Isaiah 1).

"Our bodies are now the temple of the Holy Spirit, and should be a house of prayer," continued Fr. David. "How are you prepared?"

On Tuesday of Passion Week, the Pharisees challenged the authority of Jesus. He responded by teaching on many subjects and by indicting the Jewish leaders on 12 counts. Twelve wasn't an accidental choice, relating to the 12 tribes of Israel (and the 12 apostles of Jesus). In mathematics, 12 is called the "sublime number", making this list of indictments a strong one indeed. He also taught about the end times that were to begin at his ascension.

Wednesday was the day that Judas Iscariot devised his plot to turn Jesus over to the authorities.

On the first Maundy Thursday, in Bethany, Jesus celebrates the Last Supper with the disciples. He settles once and for all their constant contention over which of them was greatest by washing their feet, showing that the one who would be greatest must have a servant's humility. Peter proclaims his fidelity and Jesus warns him that Satan will sift him like wheat and that Peter, instead of being faithful, will be ashamed to admit his discipleship. "How often do we think we're better than we are?" asked Fr. David. "Peter's failure reminds us of the futility of trusting on our own strength."

After Jesus comforts the disciples and offers the High Priestly Prayer, they sing psalms together before going to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray. The disciples are worn out and sleepy, but we see Jesus as "God and man joined in a moment of decision and truth," Fr. David explained. "Jesus prays to the Father that he would that the cup of death be removed from him, being genuinely human before expressing his faith-filled spiritual nature by praying, 'not my will but Thine be done.' Then the soldiers come, the arrest is made, and the stage is set for the crucifixion and resurrection.

"May we grow in renewed faith and love as we walk through this Passion Week with our Lord Jesus Christ."

NOTES: Walk with Jesus through Holy Week services -- Tonight, Maundy Thursday, 7 p.m. in the chapel of Reformation Lutheran Church, 111 N. Chestnut St., we will celebrate a special Eucharist, "Re-living the Last Supper"; Good Friday, 7:30 p.m. at Holy Cross Anglican Church, 615 Bay Road, Webster, we will join for the Tenebrae Service; Easter Day we will celebrate Festal Eucharist at 10 a.m. in the chapel at Reformation Lutheran with a special message, "Knowing Jesus and the Power of the Resurrection". The second Sunday of Easter, April 11, we will again worship with our brothers and sisters at Holy Cross in Webster, resuming worship at Reformation April 18, 10 a.m.

Thoughts on Prayer

2010-03-18T12:55:00.005-05:00

"Pray without ceasing." 1 Thessalonians 5:17

Paul the Apostle in his first letter to the Christian church in Thessalonica calls them to incessant prayer, continuous throughout the day, never ending.

Yet, as has been pointed out, one cannot be ever on their knees in fervent supplication and praise. And so, prayer is not the narrow constrained form that we have made it become in our daily lives. I certainly would not consider grace before every meal, supplications before bed, and panicked requests in time of need 'without ceasing'. We have turned prayer into a stale ritual which is relegated to times of day, as opposed to a never ending conversation and communion with the Savior.

Prayer is to be our spiritual breath, in our actions, in our words, in our deeds. Let us make today an act of prayer to Christ our Lord, a sacrifice of thanksgiving.

Church news, 3/5: "Stand firm in the Lord even when some live as enemies of the Cross"

2010-03-05T12:03:00.001-05:00

Our sermon time Feb. 28 was a meditation on Philippians 3:17-4:1:

Brethren, join in imitating me, and mark those who so live as you have an example in us. For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction, their god is the belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. But our commonwealth is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will change our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power which enables him even to subject all things to himself. Therefore, my brethren, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved.

It seems hard to stand firm these days. It's literally hard to stand firm in the midst of a disaster such as an earthquake or a tsunami, and it's spiritually hard to stand firm surrounded by people who "live as enemies of the cross of Christ". Paul's description is oddly modern: "their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame." Makes you think of any number of reality TV shows.
And then there are those who live more knowingly as enemies of the cross, like Ayman al-Zawahiri, al-Qaida's second in command, who exhorts Muslims to take up arms against "the cross and Zionism".

"We can't sugar-coat reality, but neither should we operate from fear," explained Fr. David. "Standing firm comes down to the difference between faith -- the 'perfect love that casts out all fear' -- and the anxiety that comes when we trust in our own strength."

The foundation on which we can stand firm, he said, is the Word of God, scripture. "We have no idea the strength of God's word in our lives when we know it even unto memorizing it, and then stand by it."

Thy word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against Thee. -- Psalm 119:11
Greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world. -- I John 4:4

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. -- Philippians 4:13

"The Word of God is the one offensive weapon we are given when putting on the armor of God," Fr. David continued, "'the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.' With eyes fixed and resolute, looking to Jesus and 'forgetting what lies behind (Philippians 3:13)', we need to commend ourselves, our circumstances, and our actions to the Lord, remembering always that it's His battle. This is how we can stand firm, by hiding ourselves in Him."

NOTES: Opportunities for mutual ministry abound! The sign-up list for lectors is available each Sunday outside the chapel, and help is also welcomed by the Altar Guild and for a new ministry of cleaning the chapel. Just ask; you can help!

Thoughts on Liturgy and Its Effect Upon Our Walk

2010-02-20T10:52:00.007-05:00

One reason why we Christians argue so much about which hymn to sing, which liturgy to follow, which way to worship is that the commandments teach us to believe that bad liturgy eventually leads to bad ethics. You begin by singing some sappy, sentimental hymn, then you pray some pointless prayer, and the next thing you know you have murdered your best friend.”

-Stanley Hauerwas

This quote by Professor Hauerwas has been one that continually reminds me of my attitude during worship, the motivation, driving force and aim of my christian walk. Are the words on the page of the Book of Common Prayer there simply to be recited in mindless unison by worshippers, unaware of the impact? How do I, as a believer in Christ, seek to make certain that my worship is acceptable in the sight of our Lord? It is essential to remember that God has guidelines for worship, and is not obligated to accept badly thought out hymns and half hearted prayers simply because one showed up to a house of worship.

It seems that the attitude of many Christians towards worship relies far too much on personal standards, and how they feel during a service. The measure of the quality of their worship is the emotive response elicited. Christ has no duty whatsoever to bless and condone whatever random religious blathering or musical arrangement performed. We are the ones that must come with hushed voices and hearts, into the presence of the Almighty, realizing our immense privilege, and seeking that our acts of worship be totally in line with His standards.

This Lord's Day, enter His house with thanksgiving, penitence, and holy fear. Let our worship be a grateful, orthodox act of thanks for His Salvation, given us by His Son.

Thought for the Day: Getting Real About the Bible

2010-02-16T23:31:00.003-05:00

We Christians tend to have sanitized ideas about the content of the Bible. We often forget that the Bible is full of stories about flawed, sinful people just like ourselves. People who suffered horribly, people who did terrible things. As Chaplain Mike, the author of the article, writes, "The Bible is rated R because its main theme is redemption." It's a quick read, but it's worth a look!

Check it out at:
The Bible: Rated "R"

Thoughts on Communion

2010-02-13T14:25:00.004-05:00

And when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, "This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me." 1 Corinthians 11:24

In the the fellowship of Holy Communion, we seek to know Christ and His suffering. We seek to touch His holy visage, to know the mystery of faith. In Him, with Him, through Him, in the unity of the Holy Spirit. The preposition ‘in’ is re-occurring when referring to Holy Communion, for it reflects upon our inward quest. Journeying deeper into the heart and mind of Christ. Communing with our Saviour on a most intimate basis. When the host is consecrated, and the people partake, we not only remember the sacrifice of our gentle Redeemer, but the life of brokenness and humility we are called to. In partaking of the cup, we are reminded of His shed blood, that purifying flow which washes our iniquities from the memory of God the Father. Communion is a remembrance, yes, but it is more. I do not hold to the tradition of transubstantiation, as some of our brethren do, but I maintain that the experience of Holy Communion in the service is much, much more than a simple reminder. It is an invitation to become one with Christ, our Holy Redeemer, who by His sacrifice, opened the pathway to Heaven, and much more, to redemption. It is a pilgrimage into the mind of our Lord, to feel His heart for the world, to know the Primal Love. May we know our Saviour in a deeper way, as we carry out His commandment to make disciples in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Jesus, Lamb of God, You take away the sin of the world. Have mercy on us. Jesus, Lamb of God, You take away the sin of the world. Grant us Your peace. Amen.

Church news, 2/3: "God has known you and consecrated you from your beginning"

2010-02-03T18:00:00.018-05:00

On Jan. 31, we considered the import of Jeremiah 1:4-10, which begins:

Now the word of the LORD came to me saying, "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations."

"God loves us and He wanted each one of us to be born" Fr. David said. "Before we were formed He knew us and consecrated us for a holy purpose. Even though some of us may have been 'unwanted' by our parents, in knowing us as only God can know us, God is the One who wanted us to be born and to live!"

He mentioned the 37th anniversary of Roe v. Wade: Sometimes in anxiety and heartache lives are snuffed out. We have a choice and we bear the consequences of our choice. The dilemma is difficult -- the anxiety and heartache that comes from contemplating a difficult pregnancy and birth, or the heartache that follows an abortion. We need to consider what God shows us in what He is saying to Jeremiah: for He likewise looks upon each of us in His holy love as we are being 'knit together in our mother's womb' (Psalm 139:13).

Fr. David told of the life of Tim Tebow, Heisman Award-winning quarterback of the University of Florida Gators. His parents were missionaries in the Philippines when his mother-to-be was afflicted with amoebic dysentery severely enough to be in a coma for a time. Saving her life required a series of very strong medications, and while her treatment was still going on she learned she was pregnant.

This in itself was unsettling news, but the situation became even more challenging when doctors informed the Tebows that Pam's placenta had detached. An abortion was recommended but the family persevered in faith and Tim was born healthy and grew up to be a star athlete.

During the Superbowl, Focus on the Family will be running a pro-life message featuring Tim. Watch for it!

"We don't know how things will turn out, but our Lord does," Fr. David continued, then turning to the common response people give when the Lord reveals His divine purpose, a response similar to Jeremiah's:

Then I said, "Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, I do not know how to speak, for I am only a youth." But the LORD said to me, "Do not say, 'I am only a youth'; for to all to whom I send you you shall go, and whatever I command you you shall speak. Be not afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, says the LORD."

There are other people of the Bible who made similar responses thinking it cannot be possible for God's purpose for their lives to be true or to come to fruition. Moses had a raft of excuses: "What if they don't believe me? What if they don't listen? I'm slow of speech, let someone else do it." Mary could not understand how it was possible for what God was expecting her to be and do could ever come to pass...

"It's not about you (alone)," Fr. David explained. "It's about God working His will in you. Trust God and ask the Lord to reign, and He will help you with all that He created you to be and to do. There's only one you and God loves you for who you truly are and for what you will become." May God be glorified as we live into who He has created us to be through faith in Him!

NOTES: We will be observing Ash Wednesday, Feb. 17, in a 7 p.m. Service with our brothers and sisters at Holy Cross Anglican Church, 615 Bay Road, Webster. Bon-Ton coupon books are again being offered for the Feb. 27 Community Day sale. See Sue Hemphill for the books, which cost $5 and contain a $10 coupon and many other percent-off coupons. All of the proceeds of the book sales and a percent of the sales on Feb. 27 directly support All Saints. Our parish directory is in the proofing stage; if you haven't yet reviewed your directory information, please do so next Sunday.

Church news, 1/15: "I must be about my Father's business"

2010-01-15T08:48:00.005-05:00

On Sunday, Jan. 10, we joined the congregation of Holy Cross Anglican Church in Webster for a combined worship service and fellowship hour. We greatly appreciate the hospitality of our brothers and sisters at Holy Cross.

The sermon was jointly preached by "the two Davids", Fr. David Ambuske of Holy Cross and our own Fr. David Harnish.

Fr. Ambuske began by reminding us that the word "liturgy" means "the work of the people". "What better work could we have than to worship and serve God every day?" he asked, before proceeding to the sermon text, Luke 2:47-50.

"What would you do with a 12-year-old who acted as Jesus did? You take him to Jerusalem for the observance of Passover. The already large city is thronged with pilgrims, and as you're preparing to go home you discover that your son has left your family group and you have no idea where he is. He's not with your relatives. He's not with your friends.

"You rush back into the city, searching everywhere, and finally find him in the temple, among the learned rabbis, listening and asking questions.

"Relieved but also a little upset, you ask him why he did this, and his reply is, "Didn't you know I must be about my Father's business?

"Now, everyone who heard him was amazed at his knowledge and insight," Fr. Ambuske continued, "so while Mary and Joseph didn't understand what Jesus was telling them that day, we can assume he opened the scriptures to them as he had in the temple and as he would even after his resurrection, when he appeared to the disciples at Emmaus. We don't know if Mary and Joseph viewed Mary's son as the Messiah while he was growing up, but we know he returned with them and continued to grow in wisdom and grace."

Fr. David Harnish continued the message, pointing out that we aren't told a lot about the teen and young adult years of Jesus. "We know that he was able to answer the teachers at the age of 12, this 'homeschooled' boy. And then we have to try to fill in the gap between the ages of 12 and 29.

"We know Jesus continued to be homeschooled and that he learned carpentry from Joseph. There are apocryphal stories such as one in which he makes a clay bird and then causes it to live. We can reject this -- it's what a human would do who was becoming God, but Jesus was God become human. In these years he was learning more than Torah at home; he was learning to be fully human, fully obedient to His Heavenly Father, and learning how to communicate God to us.

"Today we also celebrate His baptism, the beginning of His earthly ministry. And we know the first words He spoke in that ministry were, 'Repent, for the kingdom of God is at hand.'

"Now, Jesus had no need for baptism, but He did it as a step of obedience to God that all could see because He was inviting all humanity to take the same step -- to die to self and come alive to God, obedient and faithful.

"Life is about transformation (repentance and faith): starting to see better and recognizing that God is here with us. Becoming all that we were intended by God to be because we have heard the call of Jesus Christ to turn and come back to God.

"In the baptism of Jesus Christ," Fr. David concluded, "all Heaven opened and the Holy Spirit descended as God, the Father said, 'This is my beloved child with whom I am well pleased.' Jesus invites us to the same experience, and to open to Him in faith with repentance and then to hear these same words. May we be open to his call and listen carefully to Him."

NOTES: We will be worshipping in the chapel at Reformation Lutheran Church as usual this coming Sunday, Jan. 17, at the usual 10 AM time. Please join us there.

Thought for the Day: "Air-Conditioning Hell"

2010-01-13T12:28:00.006-05:00

Today's reading is an article by Albert Mohler called, "Air-Conditioning Hell- How Liberalism Happens." In it he addresses the process by which some Christians deal with doctrines that are at odds with the popular culture in an effort to make Christianity more "relevant," therefore resulting in the liberalization of the church.

The doctrine of Hell is the model for Mohler's theory, but can easily be applied to other doctrines as well. The steps he outlines are:
1. The doctrine stops being mentioned.
2. The doctrine is revised and reduced.
3. The doctrine is ridiculed.
4. The doctrine is reformulated in order to remove its intellectual and moral offensiveness.

Check the article out at:

http://www.9marks.org/CC/ejournal/2010v7-1/article_mohler.htm

Sunday, January 10, 2010 Announcement- Important!

2010-01-04T20:25:00.003-05:00

A note from Fr. David:

Blessings to you in this new year. Come join us this Sunday in Webster!

All Saints Anglican Church

Worship this Sunday, 1/10/2010

Joint Service at Holy Cross Anglican Church

615 Bay Road in Webster

10 AM

Fellowship with refreshments after the service

There will be NO Service at the Chapel on Sunday (1/10).

There will be NO Service for the Feast of the Epiphany this year.

David+

A New Year's Message from iMonk

2010-01-01T22:20:00.001-05:00

On the calendar, today is the beginning of a new year and a new decade. I can’t think of a better text of Scripture upon which to meditate than this one from Paul’s letter to the Ephesians.

In Eph. 1:3, Paul tells us that every person who is in Christ is immeasurably rich, a multi-billionaire when it comes to “spiritual blessings”—God’s favor and gifts. We lack nothing. Nothing. You can’t get any more from God than you have right now in Christ. He has given you the keys to the whole store.

These blessings are a pure gift from God. The text says God has blessed us. Period. It was his idea, his initiative, his undertaking. He planned it and performed it on our behalf. He came to us and laid this gift on our doorstep. God’s favor and gifts are entirely of grace.

These blessings are ours in Christ. It is in union with Jesus the Messiah that we come to own these blessings. In salvation, we have been personally united to him, a connection that has been established by God’s grace working through faith (2:8-10). Since we belong to Christ and are citizens of his realm, all the benefits thereof accrue to us. And this is true of everyone who is united to Christ, no matter how weak or immature their faith.

These blessings are operative in “the heavenly places”. This phrase is one way Paul described “the kingdom of God,” the realm where God rules, invisible to us now but nevertheless real and present. The heavenly places are not “way out there,” far away. Nor is this domain reserved only for the future. In Christ, God invaded this world and right now, through the Spirit, his kingdom is nearer to us than ever before. There is much more to life than meets the eye—the spiritual realm where Christ reigns is as real as the ground beneath our feet.

Now as we go into this new year, those who hold pietistic views or promote a prosperity gospel will try to tell us that the challenge for 2010 is that we must do something for our lives to be more blessed. It’s time to step up our game as Christians so that God can work. They will challenge us to pray more, read our Bibles more, serve more in order to have a barn heaping full of God’s blessings. They will goad us to be more spiritually disciplined so that God can transform our lives. They will encourage us to plant seeds of faith in order to bring forth a harvest of blessings. They will try to sell us their books containing the secrets or principles that will lead the skilled practitioner to a place of blessing.

In their view, “faith” is the key. But it is faith as a technique, a tool, a key that opens the way for God to work. It’s spiritual technology. To them, it’s also what we display to show God we’re serious. Then he will act. Exercise faith (in whatever specific form being promoted), and God will be impressed and give us the blessing.

They have it exactly backwards. More accurately, God has blessed us, therefore we believe.

The true and living God does not wait for the likes of you and me to act. The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ has already blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places. And as we face 2010, we can be sure that he has already moved ahead of us into this new year. He knows everything that is coming and he has already given us every resource we need in Christ to face what is coming. We need not ask God for more. We need only have him and his immeasurable wealth. Through the simple means of Word and sacrament which he himself ordained for us, he is with us each day and communicates to us the blessings we need from his inexhaustible storehouse.

In response to God’s incalculable blessings in Christ, we face this New Year with this as our bold confession:

So, what do you think? With God on our side like this, how can we lose? If God didn’t hesitate to put everything on the line for us, embracing our condition and exposing himself to the worst by sending his own Son, is there anything else he wouldn’t gladly and freely do for us? And who would dare tangle with God by messing with one of God’s chosen? Who would dare even to point a finger? The One who died for us—who was raised to life for us!—is in the presence of God at this very moment sticking up for us. Do you think anyone is going to be able to drive a wedge between us and Christ’s love for us? There is no way! Not trouble, not hard times, not hatred, not hunger, not homelessness, not bullying threats, not backstabbing, not even the worst sins listed in Scripture:

They kill us in cold blood because they hate you.
We’re sitting ducks; they pick us off one by one.

None of this fazes us because Jesus loves us. I’m absolutely convinced that nothing—nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable—absolutely nothing can get between us and God’s love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us. (Romans 8:31-39, MSG)

Church news, 12/30: "Beholding the glory of God's own Son"

2009-12-30T15:03:00.006-05:00

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and
the darkness has not overcome it.

There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the
light.

The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John bore witness about him, and cried out, "This was he of whom I said, 'He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.'") And from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.

We meditated on John 1:1-18 in our Sunday worship Dec. 27. Fr. David highlighted for us all the different ways John spoke of Jesus Christ in this passage: as the Word of God, who was with God from the very beginning and won't return void; as the Light that illuminates the nature of God and brightens our daily walk; as the Life that is the light of men.

"The world was made by Him, but knew him not," Fr. David pointed out. "We have a choice -- to try to hide in darkness or to receive from Jesus Christ 'the power to become children of God' and walk in the light. This is our decision. We can choose to let Christ love us, and we can thrive, receiving 'grace upon grace.' "

Let us begin the New Year accepting the gift of true life that Christ came down from Heaven to bring us! Alleluia!

NOTES: On Sunday, January 10, 10 a.m., we will not be meeting in the Chapel, we will be in Webster sharing in a joint Service with our brothers and sisters at Holy Cross Anglican Church, 615 Bay Road, Webster. CLICK HERE FOR WEB SITE and to get map

Church news, 12/21: "Blessed is Mary, the mother of our Lord"

2009-12-21T14:01:00.004-05:00

Our Sunday worship message examined the role of Mary, the mother of Jesus, in the development of Christianity. "Protestants have been inclined to downplay Mary's role as a reaction to the Roman Catholic Church's emphasis on Mary," Fr. David said, prefacing a look at "Mary, the disciple most excellent".

He reminded us that Mary figured in the prophecies of Isaiah: "Behold, a virgin shall conceive..." Isaiah 7:14. "She was chosen, even created, for the purpose of being the mother of our Lord and Savior Jesus, but she also had a say in the matter and needed to agree. We have a lot to learn from her about letting God take over our lives and fulfill the purpose for which we were created. Scripture tells us that after Gabriel visited Mary, she 'pondered in her heart' and then humbly and wholeheartedly agreed; a willing servant who was holy, chaste, humble and honest."

He pointed out further that when Mary visited her cousin Elizabeth, whose own unlikely pregnancy had also been announced by Gabriel to her husband Zechariah the priest, before Mary could tell her anything Elizabeth's baby jumped in the womb and Elizabeth cried out "Blessed are you among women!" under the power of the Holy Spirit.

"Note that Mary is exclaimed as blessed among women," Fr. David explained. "Not 'blessed are you above all women', but 'among' -- as one of us, in the midst of us."

This is where the Roman Catholic church loses its way, he said, piling on extrabiblical traditions to make Mary the "Mother of God", "CO-Redeemer", and "Queen of Heaven". These traditions allege that Mary was without sin, and therefore must have been immaculately conceived herself, and also was bodily assumed into Heaven, and had no other children, and so on.

"All these traditions take away from the primacy of Jesus Christ and from the miraculous humanity of Mary and her humble, yet exemplary faith in God. Did the shepherds and wise men come to worship Mary along with Jesus? No, they came to worship Jesus.

"But Protestants go too far in the other direction sometimes -- diminishing Mary, forgetting the lessons she can teach about giving over one's whole life to God and letting Him be magnified. "In a way, each of us is God's chosen one," Fr. David concluded. "If you're looking for true joy, spend time with God, grow in humble faith and willingness to let Almighty God be Almighty God in your life and let your soul magnify, glorify and honor Him."

NOTES: We'll be sharing a Festal Eucharist service with Christmas carols on Christmas Eve at 9 p.m., cookies and soft drinks following. This will be in our regular place of worship, the chapel at Reformation Lutheran Church on Chestnut Street. We have several opportunities for mutual ministry: if you would like to help with the Altar Guild, just join the person who is setting up or cleaning up and ask how you can help; if you'd like to join the counting team, let Fr. David know; if you can be a lector and read during worship, sign up on the list outside the chapel.

"Forgive us... as we forgive..."

2009-12-04T12:41:00.003-05:00

When you say the Lord's Prayer, do you say "forgive us our trespasses" or "forgive us our debts"?

I've been thinking about both of these, lately. "Forgive us our trespasses" figures in the magnificent novel Home, by Marilynne Richardson, companion to the equally magnificent Gilead we're reading in the Women's Book Group. (Recommendation: read Gilead first.) The two-book saga tells the Prodigal Son story in the context of life in a small town in 1950s Iowa. The son is seen first through the eyes of his godfather, a Congregational (Calvinist) pastor, and then again through the eyes of his father, a Presbyterian (Arminian) minister.

The second book recounts an incident in which an immigrant family of Soviet Communists starts farming an unused piece of the minister's land. They do it without asking and, when confronted, revile him as a rich person who begrudges them the small living they can eke out. They accuse him of hypocrisy since he is supposedly a man of God yet begrudges their... yes, trespass.

In the story, the minister decides not to press the matter even when the family begins to build a house on his land for immigrating family members. He literally forgives them their trespass with all that entails, namely allowing them to take the land by squatter's rights.

This really made me stop and think. I don't know if I'd be willing to do that, even though I completely agree it's what a Christian saint ought to do.

And having that lodged in my head might have been an influence in my encounter this week with "forgive us our debts". I've had a small debt hanging over me for awhile, and, having recently been blessed with a second job, I had it in mind to pay that as soon as I got my first check. But in the meantime, the creditor decided it was more advantageous to write it off. Hooray!

But then it struck me: what had been forgiven me was about the same amount as a debt owed to me, one I've been collecting -- slowly and painfully -- over the last several years. The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant came to mind (Matthew 18:23-35). The servant, having been forgiven a large debt, responds by aggressively trying to collect a small one. Not wanting to be like that, I decided maybe it would be best to pass it on and forgive the longstanding debt owed me. So I did.

I can't tell you how freeing it was! I thought I'd feel like a doormat or "loser", but I didn't realize how much negativity was around the constant process of reminding and collecting. Money debts have a way of being about a lot more than just dollars and cents. They're about who's "right" or "wrong", who's strong or weak, who's polite or rude, who's needy or withholding. And the list goes on.

I thought I'd be relieved to be able to stop keeping track of the account and worrying about it. but what I discovered was the real relief was in laying down the emotional burden of the situation that caused the debt in the first place. Instead of dispensing a favor, I find I've done myself the favor.

Is there a debt or trespass weighing you down this holiday season? One you could forgive, and thereby forget? Give it some thought. It might be the best present you could give not only your debtor but also yourself.

Church news, 11/30: "Living in the kingdom of Christ the King"

2009-11-24T17:43:00.016-05:00

November 22, the last Sunday after Pentecost, Christ the King Day, provided the opportunity for us to consider who is the king of us -- Christ or someone/something else?

Fr. David pointed out that Jesus Christ gave a succinct description of His kingdom when he appeared before Pontius Pilate:

My kingship is not of this world; if my kingship were of this world, my servants would fight, that I might not be handed over to the Jews; but my kingship is not from the world.... For this I was born, and for this I have come into the world, to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears my voice. (John 18:33-37)

"The world's way is to fight for power," Fr. David says. "There's a big difference between how things are done in the world and how they are done in Christ's kingdom."

While the difference is huge, it's still easy to get caught up in worldly fights because even though we aren't of the world we're in it. Even during the life of Jesus, we see Peter drawing a sword and cutting off the ear of Malchus in an attempt to stop him from arresting Jesus:

"Put your sword back in its place," Jesus said to him, "for all who draw the sword will die by the sword. Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?" (Matthew 26:53,54)

And Jesus heals Malchus' ear and allows Himself to be arrested. This is the ultimate example of faith in God: the man Jesus, struggling with the idea of laying down his life, obeying his Heavenly Father as the Christ of the Trinity.

"We're meant to be in the Kingdom and the Kingdom in us -- where God is honored, worshiped, adored and obeyed through faith," Fr. David said. Fighting in the world's way indicates we prefer to trust in our own strength than in God's.

"How much difference has the Gospel and presence of Jesus made in your life?" Fr. David asked. "Do we fight as the world fights, or do we witness by word and behavior? Do we really believe that the Kingdom of God is the 'pearl of great price', worth everything to obtain? Let us pray for change in the world -- 'Thy will be done on earth as in Heaven' -- one life at a time, starting with ours."

NOTES: The Parish Annual Meeting was held following worship. Joseph Ibezim and Jason Willson were elected unanimously to three-year terms on the Vestry. New Ministry and Liturgy Committees were formed and the parish spent some time looking at its forward planning in terms of a draft 2010 budget, a new design for ministry functions, and desired characteristics of a church home. Thanks to the Sunday School for their gifts of Advent Chains and thanks to all who helped supply the delicious lunch. The Women's Book Group meeting will be re-scheduled after the holidays. Books to be discussed include Gilead by Marilynne Robinson and Catching Fireflies by Patsy Clairmont.

Church news, 11/21: "Hannah -- Blessings through perseverence and prayer"

2009-11-21T12:26:00.003-05:00

We continued our study of women in the Bible on Nov. 15 with an examination of the life of Hannah.

When one thinks of heroines of Scripture, Hannah is not one of the first to spring to mind. But Fr. David pointed out that she was an inspiring example in her own day, later to the Virgin Mary, and continuing to the present. "You may remember Heidi Smith, a missionary to Chile we supported, along with her husband Russ. Heidi always looked to Hannah for an example of Godly living," he told us.

Hannah was a woman who felt the sting of the Jewish convention of allowing men to have more than one wife. We recall this started with Abraham, Sarah, and Hagar. God promised Abraham and Sarah an heir, but rather than trust God, they "tried to settle God's mind," Fr. David said. "They decided to fulfil the promise for God by adding a second, younger wife, Hagar." Of course, Sarah did eventually -- even in her old age -- give birth to the promised heir, Isaac. And the contention between the wives ended with the banishment of Hagar and her son Ishmael.

Society, sadly, didn't learn from this and other polygamous marriages. Wives became more like property and less like partners. A man's wealth and power were measured in part by how many wives he could support and how many children they bore him.

So Hannah, one of two wives of Elkanah, felt doubly cursed. Not only did she have a rival in Elkinah's other wife, Peninnah, but she was also childless, something that Peninnah constantly alluded to. Moreover, Hannah was only entitled to a single portion of Elkanah's sacrifices and other goods while Peninnah received portions for herself and all of her children.

Hannah became so distressed that she stopped eating, went to the temple, and prayed passionately but silently, since women were expected to be "seen and not heard". And even in the temple, society judged her wrongly. Eli the priest assumes she's drunk because her mouth is moving as she prays. He harshly asks her how long she'll live as a drunken person.

Now, after all the scorn heaped on Hannah, one might expect her to run away, curse God, and declare the priest an unfeeling hypocrite. But instead, she courageously corrects his wrong impression of her and Eli apologizes and blesses her, "Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant your petition which you have made to him."

Fr. David pointed out that Hannah wasn't praying to make a deal with God, but simply that God would remember her and her situation. "We see the same language with the thief on the cross, who asks Jesus to remember him. This isn't about the mind remembering, but the soul."

Hannah understood that everything belongs to God because it comes from God. She prayed to be allowed to give God what was already his -- the son she longed to bear. She offered her son-to-be as a Nazarite, a consecrated priest for life whose hair would never be cut. And then she left the temple, washed her face, resumed eating and a happy normal life -- the evidence of true faith, giving the problem to God and considering it solved.

And in fact, God did give Hannah a son, Samuel, the great priest and prophet who heard God's audible call at a young age in a time when God's direct intervention was rare. Hannah's Canticle of thanksgiving was recorded, and the Magnificat of Mary would later echo it. From a place of utter helplessness, Hannah let God raise her up to cast a light down through history.

"Hannah shows us where the Lord is at times in life when we're made to feel less," Fr. David explained. "Women in particular are familiar with this feeling, an attitude of society that needs to be broken in Christ, where there is neither male nor female. We are all far more than society would make us, and as we realize this we will be willing to offer back to God the gift of ourselves, to be the answer to part of our own prayers."

NOTES: Parish annual meeting is tomorrow, Nov. 22, following worship. Lunch (submarine sandwiches, sides and soda) will be available in Room B and the meeting is scheduled to conclude at 1:30. We will elect parish officers, hear a treasurer's report, and discuss our future in relation to the rector's Covenant Agreement, transition of ministries, mission and calling of the parish and future plans for worship and meetings. Please plan to attend this important meeting.

Church news, 11/13 -- "Ruth, Dedication and Steps of Faith"

2009-11-13T12:14:00.005-05:00

November 8th's sermon message focused on the Old Testament story of Ruth, the great-grandmother of King David, still quoted 3,000 years later at weddings -- "whither thou goest, I will go...".

Ruth, a Moabitess (Moab was located where Jordan is today), was the daughter-in-law of Naomi, a Jewish woman who moved to Moab with her husband, Elimelech, to escape a famine in Judah. Naomi's sons came of age in Moab and took wives from among the Moabites, Ruth and Orpah.

Sadly, within about 10 years, Elimelech and both of his sons were dead, leaving three widows. By this time the famine had ended, and so Naomi prepared to return to her family in Judah. Her daughters-in-law began to make the journey with her, but Naomi stopped them and pointed out that it would be better for them to go home to their own mothers and find new husbands among their own people. Both of them argued with her at first, but eventually Orpah was persuaded and started the journey to her own home.

Ruth, however, would not be moved and insisted on traveling to Judah with Naomi. Once they reached Bethlehem, Naomi taught Ruth the tradition of Jewish families -- that widows were allowed to follow behind those gathering a grain harvest and pick up any gleanings left behind. Ruth did this and attracted the attention of Boaz, a kinsman of Naomi's, who made sure she got enough food for both women before eventually purchasing the land holdings of Elimelech and his sons and marrying Ruth.

Why was it, we wonder, that Ruth was willing to follow Naomi, turning her back on her own family, culture, and religion? Naomi means "pleasantness", so we can assume she was a good companion, and she had shared tragedy with Ruth. But would these things be enough to cause Ruth to leave behind her own real mother, her family, and her identity?

What's between the lines of the story is that Naomi was living a holy life. She was a living example to Ruth of what Yahweh was like. We often have confusion over the place of works in our lives of faith. We know works won't save us. We know faith without works is dead. How do these truths not contradict each other?

Naomi shows us that the reason to do works and try to live a holy life isn't to impress God, but rather show God to those around us. Because she showed Yahweh to Ruth, Ruth was persuaded. It doesn't always work -- Orpah saw the same example but still eventually decided to stay in Moab -- but how we deal with tragedy or any of life's problems is a much more powerful witness than anything we might tell people.

Of course, once Naomi and Ruth arrived in Judah, Ruth also saw "how people of God care for each other," as Fr. David pointed out. "The way Ruth was treated by Naomi's people reveals the way we should behave as a parish family." At the end of the story, Ruth bears a son, Obed, and the women of Naomi's neighborhood rejoice with her, telling her Obed is her son too, because Ruth and Boaz would never have met except for her. It's amazing what can happen in a community of believers! Thanks be to God!

NOTES: The Parish Annual Meeting will take place following worship on Sunday, Nov. 22. The agenda and voter list is posted in the chapel. We'll have a dish-to-pass lunch on that day. After worship on Nov. 8 we had a farewell reception for Al Bagdonas, who with his wife, Holly, has moved to South Carolina. We'll miss Al and Holly but wish them all the best in their new life and ministry. Bon-Ton Community Day is tomorrow, Nov. 14. A percentage of the money taken in tomorrow will be donated to All Saints.

Thought for the Day: Refocus

2009-11-09T12:30:00.000-05:00

C.H. Spurgeon (circa 1857):

Dear friends, the last song in this world, the song of triumph, shall be full of God, and of no one else. Here you praise the instrument, to-day you look on this man and on that, and you say, “Thank God for this minister, and for this man.” To-day you say, “Blessed be God for Luther, who shook the Vatican, and thank God for Whitfield, who stirred up a slumbering church;” but in that day you shall not sing of Luther, nor of Whitfield, nor of any of the mighty ones of God’s hosts; forgotten shall their names be for a season, even as the stars refuse to shine when the sun himself appeareth. The song shall be unto Jehovah, and Jehovah only; we shall not have a word to say for preachers nor bishops, not a syllable to say for good men and true; but the whole song from first to last shall be, “Unto him that loved us, and hath washed us from our sins in his own blood, unto him be glory forever and ever. Amen.”

This 'thought of the day' comes from one of the greatest preachers the world has ever known: Charles Spurgeon. This thought reminds us of what it means to put God first: to love Him with all our heart, mind, soul and strength. After-all, life and faith are not about us... how we are doing, or whatever, it is all about God, first and foremost. Praise be to Almighty God! Amen.

Church news, 10/28: "Job -- Knowing God with heart and soul"

2009-11-09T12:21:00.002-05:00

In the fourth and final message in our series on Job, we see how God leads Job to a faith that is secure and personal. Through God's answer to Job we learn that Job always obeyed God and, throughout his time of testing, he did not sin against God.

It can rightly be said that Job loved God with his heart and respected God with his intellect throughout his life. But until he came face to face with God he lacked the ultimate level of spiritual understanding. "Job comes to a place of humility. He recognizes that he shouldn't have spoken at all because he lacked understanding, but now he recognizes and understands the majesty and glory of God. Now he believes in God not just by hearing but also by seeing and knowing God personally." Fr. David explained.

"Most of us are in this place of personal faith in our good times, as Job was. But how awesome to be there also in our bad times -- to have total confidence even then in the trustworthiness of Almighty God."

We know that much is required of those who receive much. As a man rich in the world's wealth, Job had long been a good steward. But now Job has had a personal audience with the Almighty, and something new will be required of him: God asks Job to serve as priest and intercessor for his three friends.

"Job was chosen because priests are called to represent God correctly," said Fr. David. "Job had met God vertically and now had to represent him horizontally, in love to his neighbors. And as soon as he does this -- intercedes for his friends forgiveness and prays for them -- God accepts Job's intercession and then restores all that Job had before: twice the material wealth, the comfort of all his family and friends, and 10 children. God does relates to Job in the deepest of ways: in community!" Job, drawing closer to God, helps his friends to be reconciled with God and with him, brings forgiveness to his wife, is restored with even greater respectability and leadership in the greater community, and is able to truly enjoy all that he has because he understands in the deepest and most profound of ways the source and meaningfulness of all blessing.

Likewise, in a way, Job serves as a priest to us, as we study and take in his extraordinary encounter with God in the depths of personal faith. Thanks be to God for Job's wonderful witness!

NOTE: If you've not yet had time to complete the parish survey and stewardship response sheet, please take a moment to do so before Nov. 1, All Saints' Day. Thank you!

Church news, 10/21: Job questions, God answers

2009-10-21T16:54:00.007-05:00

We continued our study of Job in the Oct. 11 and 18 worship services. The Oct. 11 message considered major challenges in the Book of Job that bear on a core question of life: Why do the righteous suffer? Or, to quote the title of a popular book, "Why do bad things happen to good people?"

In the 23rd chapter, we see Job both complaining and searching. He admits being in a state of bitter complaint and yearns to approach God and lay out his argument as a defendant would before a judge. Job believes his reasoned argument would result in a verdict of acquittal for him, but he despairs he will not have the opportunity to stand before the Almighty in this way.

Fr. David pointed out that some might see Job's attitude as lacking in humility. However, Job's righteousness is shown through his trust: he trusted God to hear him and to care for him because he remembered his former blessings.

This wasn't easy under the circumstances. Job is bearing his afflictions, the scorn of his wife and also of his friends. "The problem with suffering," Fr. David said, "is that you feel all alone, even though the Lord is always there for you. There are two voices you can choose to listen to -- the voice of the accuser ('You must have done something to deserve this.') or the voice of the Holy Spirit ('I, the Lord, will never leave you nor forsake you.') Job doesn't waver in his trust, and his faith will be stronger once he receives the answers he seeks."

Continuing the series on Oct. 18, we considered God's answers to Job. Job now has what he sought -- a chance to be face to face with the Almighty. But rather than pleading his case like a defendant before a judge, he is as any person would be under these circumstances: awestruck and mute. "I lay my hand on my mouth," he says. "...I will proceed no further."

Fr. David pointed out that when God says, "Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge?" it's Job's friends being spoken of, not Job himself. "Even as a faultfinder, God is there for the purpose of Job's salvation and purification," he explained. "Job comes to a place of humility. He's brought to his knees by the realization of God's power, sovereignty and love, as anyone would be in his situation. His appropriate response to God's questions is, 'Who did I think I was?' He realizes God has a plan for him."

Part of that plan was much bigger than Job could ever see. Because of the traditional order the books of the Bible are in, we forget that Job's story actually occurs early in history. If we put the Book of Job in the correct chronological spot, it would fall between Genesis chapters 11 and 12. It's significant that Job probably spent more time in God's direct presence than any other person other than Adam and Eve, whose conversations with the Almighty in the garden are not recorded for us. So Job stood in our place early in time to give us insight into what an encounter with God is like.

In addition, there was a more immediate plan for Job, and that was to be the intercessor/priest for his friends. He represents them before God and then takes his knowledge back to them in loving correction.

Next Sunday we'll consider whether it's possible to do what Job set out to do, which is prove ourselves right to God. Is this honesty, self-righteousness, or maybe a bit of both?

NOTES: If you received the parish survey and stewardship letter, please respond by Sunday, Nov. 1, All Saints Day. Your commitment to our Stewardship Drive is greatly appreciated. Bon-Ton coupon books are still available from Alison Stone for $5 a book, all of which goes to All Saints. Pay by check made out to All Saints, marked "Bon-Ton" on the reference line.

For your bookshelf: Robert Farrar Capon

2009-10-17T14:19:00.004-05:00

Fr. Robert Farrar Capon, a retired Episcopal priest who lives outside New York City, might be the best Christian author you've never heard of. I think of him as the American C.S. Lewis. His theology is impeccable and his writing is always engaging and usually full of humor.

It's also memorable. In The Fingerprints of God, Capon opens with a dialogue between the persons of the Trinity. At one point the Holy Spirit says:

"I suggested an image of the Son hiding a box of chocolates in every person's house: the gift would be there whether they know it or not, like it or not, believe it or not. Maybe then they'd see that their faith doesn't do anything to get them the chocolates of forgiveness; it simply enables them to enjoy what they already have. If they don't trust the gift, of course, it won't mean a thing to them. But the chocolates will always be there. I was even willing to make them miraculous, just to keep the element of mystery in the mix: no matter how many pieces anyone ate, the box would always be full. I still think it would have been a good idea."

See what I mean? And all of his prose is just that memorable and thought-provoking.

Here's a 2004 interview with Capon that includes photos of many of his books. Most aren't in the library and they're hard to find in used book stores because, I think, they tend to be among people's "keepers". Enjoy the interview and let us know what you think:

Robert Farrar Capon interview

Church news 10/7: "Job: the Battle for the Soul"

2009-10-14T05:19:00.010-05:00

On Oct. 4 we began a four-part study of the Book of Job, regarded as the most profound and literary book of the Old Testament.

Fr. David pointed out that the Book of Job addresses life's hardest questions, like "Why do the innocent suffer?", "What is the basis of faith?", and "Should we give thanks only for blessings?"

Our reading comprised Job 1:1 and 2:1-10, which shows the first step in the testing of Job and the purification of his faith. The end point of Job's journey will be to know God personally and to understand the meaning of life, beyond simply believing in God for the blessings he was receiving.

"Satan evidently thinks Job has selfish motives for his faith," Fr. David explained. In his role as the accuser, Satan goes before God and says Job's faith won't stand up under pressure. "He believes that even the best of mankind will curse God if they are afflicted. So God allows Satan to work on Job, taking away everything but his life and his wife. Yet Job persists in his integrity -- having faith integrated into his values and thoughts."
We find Job, formerly a well-reputed and wealthy man (perhaps even the wealthiest man in the Land of Uz, later known as Edom) sitting on an ashheap, scraping boils that have appeared on his body, and contemplating the loss of all his property and the deaths of his children. Even his wife, who could have provided comfort, turns against him with a sarcastic comment about the uselessness of integrity, telling him to "curse God and die."
Job gently rebukes her, telling her she speaks like a foolish person. "Shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?"
That stops us in our tracks. We wonder why would ever allow evil to occur against those who believe in Him or why the innocent suffer.

As the 19th Century theologian Octavius Winslow wrote:

Unmingled good is not the portion even of the saints of God. ...Unmingled good is reserved for heaven. There, all is pure unmixed bliss, deepening as the ocean flows on through eternity. But here the good and the evil in our history are wisely and happily combined: "Shall we receive good at the hands of God, and shall we not receive evil?" The origin and the source of all the disciplinary dealings of the believer are unfolded. They are not as from accident, but are from God.

Under the weight of sin and evil, "Even Jesus, at the place of the cross, cries out 'My God, why hast thou forsaken me?'" Fr. David pointed out. "But then He continues His trust in His Father and cries out, 'Into Thy hands I commend my spirit.'

"Why can't we go along and believe and not be pushed so hard? Is suffering about a process of refinement and an education in cooperation with God through the removing of our blessings, or is suffering for some further purpose also? When we find the answers to these questions, as we will by walking with Job and examining our faith, we will find the deeper dimension to our faith and our lives."

NOTES: Lectors needed! The October/November schedule of readings is available outside the chapel each Sunday; please sign up for this most appreciated ministry. The Women's Book Group met on Tuesday night and chose Gilead by Marilynne Robinson and Catching Fireflies by Patsy Clairmont as the two selections for December. Bon-Ton coupon booklets are still available -- $5 buys numerous high-value coupons to use Nov. 14 and the money goes 100% to All Saints. See Alison Stone for details.

Thought for the day: Atheism, part 2

2009-10-10T10:28:00.012-05:00

First of all, if you didn't read all the comments appended to the original iMonk article referenced in last week's post on atheism, try to find the time. The comments give a sobering window into just what the world expects from us in terms of being Christlike. Playing footsie with the world won't cut it. Being judgmental won't cut it. Being political and/or materialistic won't cut it. And being light on Biblical scholarship leaves us with nothing much to say by way of rebuttal.

As an example consider the recent "she said"/"he said" pairing of articles in the Wall Street Journal. Noted atheist Richard Dawkins vigorously makes the case for the irrelevance of God. God's defense is assigned to Karen Armstrong, a former nun and present popularizer of religion-in-general.

Dawkins says science makes any concept of God irrelevant. Armstrong's only counter is that we need a concept of God as a repository for our sense of wonder. Albert Mohler, president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, correctly identifies the articles as simply a debate between two kinds of atheists, the abrasive kind and the "nice" kind.

So what do we say to atheists like Richard Dawkins who are smart and blunt? Call me naive but I don't see the difficulty in answering.

Dawkins's primary point about God is, "The temptation [to attribute the appearance of a design to actual design itself] is a false one, because the designer hypothesis immediately raises the larger problem of who designed the designer. The whole problem we started out with was the problem of explaining statistical improbability. It is obviously no solution to postulate something even more improbable."

According to a wikipedia article, "Dawkins does not claim to disprove God with absolute certainty. Instead, he suggests as a general principle that simpler explanations are preferable (see Occam's razor), and that an omniscient and omnipotent God must be extremely complex. As such, he argues that the theory of a universe without a God is preferable to the theory of a universe with a God."

The problem with Dawkins isn't the respectible scientific outlook quoted above. It's where he goes from there, making theatrical blanket statements like "Evolution is the creator of life," and "God is not dead. He was never alive in the first place." Bold talk from someone who admits he can't, with certainty, disprove God. I guess you could say he has a form of faith.

So let me take a stab at what I would say to someone like Dawkins:

1.) If you have a concern about who/what created an eternal, omniscient, omnipresent, omnipotent Creator, then you'll understand my concern about science's lack of an identified first cause for either matter or life.

2.) Evolution diversified life, but there is no evidence to assert that evolution "created" life. There is, however, plenty of evidence that life only comes from life. If everything came from, say, a hydrogen atom, then you must be making an argument for spontaneous generation, a belief science relieved both Aristotelians and Christians of a long time ago.

3.) While there's a ton of evidence for interspecies evolution, the evidence gets more sparse as one moves up the classification ladder. Even looking at interorder evolution (order Primates), the new fossil "Ardi" gives us hominid ancestors for humans a million years older than "Lucy", still walking upright, still climbing trees carefully, still recognizably human-ish, with no chimpy missing link yet in sight. And that's why the Theory of Evolution cannot yet evolve into the Law of Evolution. Intellectual honesty demands you to admit that there are just as many gaps in your own knowledge as there are in my knowledge as a Bible-believing Christian.

4.) Please stop setting up the strawman argument that most Christians believe the earth is only 10,000 years old. Bishop Ussher had a great idea when he counted the generations in the Bible. However, he failed to take into consideration unnumbered unrecorded generations. Read here for a good study into Bible time.

Bottom line, I'll remain nonjudgmental, Mr. Dawkins, and trust you to do the same.

Thought for the Day: Atheism

2009-10-01T23:32:00.001-05:00

iMonk posted an interesting essay regarding the popularity of atheism among young people, and the trend of abandoning Christianity for atheism. He points out that the typical young atheist is not an atheist because he or she was convinced by the philosophical arguments of prominent atheists. Rather, atheism is simply easier. iMonk believes that the hyperbolic claims of most evangelical churches, combined with the lack of witness in the typical Christian's life have made Christianity appear to be overly complicated, disappointing, and hypocritical.

"Vast numbers of people aren’t asking for philosophy. They are asking what will let them live a life uncomplicated by lies, manipulation and constant calls to prefer ignorance to what seems obvious."

Hmm. This inspires some serious self-contemplation.

Take a look at the original post:
Re:Atheism

Church news 9/29: "Offering prayers of faith"

2009-10-01T13:34:00.000-05:00

James had a lot to say about prayers of faith, and the September 27 sermon focused on the "who" and "how" of praying in faith.

Fr. David challenged us to avoid being "chicken Christians" when it comes to things like praying for healing. If the early Church practiced this kind of praying as a regular part of their life with God, why shouldn't we?

Citing the Baptist theologian John Piper, Fr. David pointed out three roles for Christians in their prayer life as recorded in James 5.

1.) Verse 13 says: "Is any one among you suffering? Let him pray." So first, if a Christian is afflicted in some way, he or she should first pray for his or her needs, coming to the Lord humbly in faith and with confession. (Note also the second part of the verse: "Is any cheerful? Let him sing praise." We can think of this as a kind of heavenly health insurance since we know "a cheerful heart is a good medicine." [Proverbs 17:22])

2.) In verse 14 James offers a second role for praying Christians: "Is any among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him... and the prayer of faith will save the sick man, and the Lord will raise him up." The elders are people of faith and leadership, sometimes in a formalized position within a congregation but not necessarily. They come together as a focus for prayer -- "For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." (Matthew 18:20) -- they anoint the sick person with oil, but they aren't healers. James makes it plain that the Lord heals and the Lord forgives.

3.) But what of Christians who aren't elders? Are they limited to praying only for their own needs? No! In verse 16 James says further: "...confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, that you might be healed." An interesting aspect of this is that, while praying for another you might be healed yourself, even when you don't realize you need it.

So we're to pray for ourselves personally, we're to call for the elders and accept their prayer intercession on our behalf, and we're to pray as a faith community for the needs of our family, friends and neighbors. And what will happen when we do?

James says, "The prayer of a righteous man (a person made right with God through faith) has great power in its effects," recounting Elijah's prayers that stopped rain for three and a half years and then started it again. "Great power" over the elements and great power over our lives is part of the promise for persons who are filled with faith and who are in deep communion with the Lord. How can we pray like this? Fr. David pointed to Jesus' teaching about prayers of faith in Mark 11:23-24:

"Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be thou taken up and cast into the sea'; and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it shall be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours."

Prayers of faith are first of all in concert with the will of God ("...not my will, but thine, be done", Luke 22:42). Second, they are prayed with no doubt in God nor in the power of God to answer. "There might be questions in your mind; we're human and so we question," Fr. David said, "but we need to keep in mind that our questions don't limit what God is able to do." Faith in our hearts and souls move us with confidence beyond the doubts in our minds.

Third, prayers of faith are prayed with trust in God, trusting that He is hearing us and understands the situation far better than we ever can, having made us. We are to 'trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight' (Prov. 3:5). Fourth, prayers of faith are centered in Christ with a focus that causes us to strive forward unto Him (Phil. 3:12-14), bringing us near to the "beatific vision" we are promised on the day when we will see Him face to face (1 Cor. 13:12).

May we make this kind of praying -offering prayers of faith- a priority in our lives!

Notes: Following the service, Alison Stone gave an informative presentation on Sunday School, including how the congregation can support the Sunday School program.

The Bon-Ton Community Day coupon books are now available; the Community Day sale is Nov. 14. Each $5 book includes numerous coupons including one for $10 off a single item and others for up to 30% off. The entire price of the book accrues to All Saints, along with added funds based on the number of books sold.

Thought for the Day: How Far is Too Far?

2009-09-24T21:56:00.003-05:00

Recently, Muslims ended the month of Ramadan, a month devoted to fasting and prayer in order to purify themselves through restraint and good deeds. So why is this significant? Attention has been drawn recently to certain a prominent Christian emergent leader, Brian McLaren, who announced that he was also fasting during Ramadan in order to "come close to our Muslim neighbors and to share this important part of life with them." Other Christian leaders such as Albert Mohler disagree with him, saying that "The logic of Islam is obedience and submission. It's by following these practices that a Muslim demonstrates his obedience to the rule of the law through the Quran. For a Christian to do the same automatically implies a submission to the same rule."

To most of us, it probably seems obvious that this was a bad idea. But it was successful in a way: the Muslims that McLaren spent time with felt that "Here is a pastor who wants to understand us, who does not want to convert us, and who is even prepared to walk with us, to fast with us. That is a big gesture." He was able to connect with them in a way that showed respect. So what should we take from this? What do you think Christians should do to show Jesus' love to those around us, including Muslims?

"Christians Observing Ramadan" by Motte Brown

Church news, 9/20: "Stop the Warring Madness!"

2009-09-23T19:23:00.014-05:00

Our Sunday homily focused closely on James 4:1-10:

What causes wars, and what causes fightings among you? Is it not your passions that are at war in your members? You desire and do not have; so you kill. And you covet and cannot obtain; so you fight and wage war. You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. Unfaithful creatures! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Or do you suppose it is in vain that the scripture says, "He yearns jealously over the spirit which he has made to dwell in us"? But he gives more grace; therefore it says, "God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble." Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you men of double mind. Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to dejection. Humble yourselves before the Lord and he will exalt you.

   Fr. David pointed out that these verses apply to dissension within the body of believers. James addresses 'you' in the plural meaning among you all. James states strongly that dissensions come from people's desires for self-gratification and self-interest rather than from dedication to do the will of God. He uses language that's sometimes shocking, such as "you desire and do not have; so you kill," not to infer that Christians were necessarily committing murder, but that they were angry with their brothers and sisters -- a meaning along the lines of Jesus' admonition recorded in Matthew 5:21-22 "You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.' But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment".
   Conflicts, fightings, and wars in our relationships (especially within the church) are because we desire and covet and don't obtain what we want. He states that we don't have... because we do not ask, meaning that we do not ask God in prayer. Furthermore our asking is amiss because we ask with self-interest and in self-centeredness ("to spend it on your passions") for the sake of self-gratification.

   James tells the scattered Jewish Christians that they absolutely have to choose between the world's way and God's way; that they can't be "doubleminded", trying to be friends both of God and of the world. In strong language once again, we are told that we end up as "adulterers and adultresses" and "enemies of God" when we become friends of the world (enculturated and co-opted into a 'me-first' world).

   The Word of the Lord in James helps us to realize that we must learn how to 'stop the warring madness' by submitting ourselves (entrusting ourselves) to God in humble faith. Seeking His holy will and cooperating with Him in true conversion through faith will lift us from the perversions brought on by our self-centeredness. Ask Him in prayer... seeking His will (not our own), "resist the devil and he will flee from you", "draw near to God and He will draw near to you."

May we become singleminded desirers of God's will. As we do this, the Lord will exalt us and the warring madness among us will subside.

   We continued our consideration of these verses in our after-service discussion. It's no accident that dissension can arise during times of the greatest opportunity for growth and service. So we reminded ourselves of our priorities, to make sure that God's will and ministries are always our first focus, over and above our own personal interests. To God be the glory!

NOTES: The special offering for Shane Gormley, our seminarian at Nashotah House in Wisconsin, continues through the end of the month. We also give thanks for the use of the Chapel and meeting room at Reformation Lutheran Church, and for the loving hospitality extended to us by their congregation and staff.

Spirit vs. body or spirit AND body?

2009-09-18T19:52:00.000-05:00

The duality of life can't be escaped. Maybe it's even a tri-ality. There's the talkative mind, the stolid body, and the spirit that's hard to pin down.

As Christians, we tend to think of our minds (renewed) as the voices of our spirits, and so what we experience is a duality in which we too often exalt the "superior", communicative mind at the expense of the "inferior", silent, stubborn body. In short, because our minds yack so much, we pay them a lot of attention.

And when a friend or family member dies, we think only of their spirit and its journey, since their body is still right here, still silent, and still stubborn. We think of their spirit with Jesus in Heaven: I remember my mother once wondering if we would become little points of light, hovering like fireflies.

Concentrating on the spirit only -- or worse, downgrading the body to "just a shell", as I have heard Christians say from time to time -- impoverishes our faith. We are beings of body and spirit and we will, for eternity, have glorified bodies as our spirits' clothing; bodies like Christ's that are "real", solid, but no longer subject to the laws of physics or fallen Nature.

This essay, The Great Christian Doctrine of the Resurrection of the Body, reminds us of the sacred importance of our bodies. We are beings that are, eternally, both spiritual and physical. Remembering this not only helps us grapple with ideas of the afterlife, but also gives us a way to mediate the negative barrage our minds like to hurl at our bodies.

What are your reactions to the essay?

Church News: September 15, 2009

2009-09-18T17:02:00.005-05:00

Last Sunday, the message was titled, "Losing Our Lives For Christ's Sake" based upon Jesus' words recorded in Mark 8 verses 27-38. In it, Father David started out by seeking to answer the question of how valuable our souls and lives are. The short answer- Worth dying for! Indeed, he said, to recognize the context of this passage, we need to contemplate the sanctity and awesome value of our lives, lives for which the Son of God offered His Life on the Cross.

He reminded the listeners that "God wanted us born" and "He has great hopes and investment in our lives." Our lives are valuable to God! From this starting point, he helped us to unpack what Jesus said as recorded in Mark 8:35 "whoever would save his life will lose it; and whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel's will save it."

"Considering our lives as valuable to God, then what does the denial of self entail?", David+ asked. It entails a shift from self-centeredness, selfishness, exclusive self-interest, and even seeking self-protection without consideration of God's place in our lives. Who is at the center of your life?, David+ asked. Who do you seek to have supreme control in your life? Is it your self or is it Jesus?

So how does self-denial and humility fit in to our lives in a godly way? David+ explained that everything we have is from God, therefore we don't need to hold so very tightly to our own self interest. Rather, we must learn to let go of our selfishness, our efforts to save ourselves without God's help, and learn through faith to cooperate with God and trust Him.

"And yet", David+ continued, "self-denial is not an end in itself."

We can never rid ourselves of self-interest... this can not be the aim... and furthermore 'What can a man give in return for his life?' (Mark 8:37). The self-denial Jesus advocates takes dying to self and becoming alive to God. We do this by giving over ourselves to trust Jesus as Lord and Savior. This means that we learn to cooperate with Him in the life He gives us and the life to which He calls us in His love. Afterall, Jesus is speaking here of self-denial for His sake and for the sake of the gospel. We are therefore invited to give over our loyalties, our focus, our purpose, everything that is important, and indeed, our centeredness, to God.

David+ encouraged us not to think of ourselves as too damaged, too bad, or too unreachable for God, nor are we to think we are too good, not needing a Savior. Neither are we to see God as to weak or too unwilling or uncaring to receive us and grant us life eternal as we lose (invest, commit) our lives unto Him: for His sake and the gospel.

So who is in control- you or God? Father David concluded, "In Christ, your life is not your own. Jesus bought your life for the price of His own Life, therefore your life is sacred to God." Let us offer (lose) our lives unto Him in faith in order to gain true life.

Announcements

Pray for the people of Reformation Lutheran as they meet to discuss the recent changes in the Lutheran church and how these changes will affect them.

September 26, 2009- First day of Sunday School! Tom and Alison will host an after-church meeting for all members regarding Sunday School, refreshments will be provided.

October 6, 2009- Women's Book Group will meet at 7PM at the Perkins at 1500 W. Ridge Rd. The discussion will include "Why Faith Matters" by David J. Wolpe, the Mary Magdalene

chapter of the book "Twelve Extraordinary Women" by John MacArthur, and the Ben Stein video documentary "Expelled".

Thought for the Day: How Do We Respond to Those Who Ask Us How We Can Believe In Something that Can't Be Proved?

2009-09-11T11:18:00.000-05:00

"The existence of non-empirical knowledge is absolutely crucial for a Christian worldview."

Non-empirical knowledge is knowledge that can not be proved to be true or untrue by using the five senses. The widespread materialistic worldview does not acknowledge that any truth can exist beyond what can be seen, heard, tasted, smelled, or felt. But we as Christians know that there is so much more. How can we explain this to those who are limited by a sole belief in the empirical? Check out this post from the Boundless.org blog called:

Christianity and Non-Empirical Knowledge

And for those who would like to know more about how to describe knowledge, check out the companion article:

What Is Knowledge?

Church news, 9/8: Faith without works is dead

2009-09-09T11:01:00.002-05:00

On Sunday we considered another seeming paradox of Scripture: are we saved through faith or through works? Passages such as Ephesians 2:8 indicate what the Reformers preached: "Sola Fide", Faith Alone! But James 2:14-26 (esp.17 & 26) plainly says that faith without works is dead. So which one is it?

Fr. David pointed out that "Sola Fide" (we are saved by 'Faith Alone") was put forward in response to an emphasis on works in the Roman Catholic Church.

"Martin Luther was frustrated by his inability to rid himself of sin. No amount of works seemed to be enough. Finally he realized he couldn't be good enough, no matter what he did, no matter how many of his sins he could remember and then confess" said Fr. David. "Luther was reading Paul's letter to the Romans when the Holy Spirit flooded his life and showed him it wasn't about him or what he did. Salvation was already accomplished in Jesus' death on the Cross and is offered to us as a free gift that we receive through faith.

"So the Reformers said it's the Lord's work that counts, not ours, and this is true. But then James points out that faith will make a change in the fabric of our lives, and this is also true. The seed of salvation -- God's Word dwelling in us -- springs to life and bears spiritual fruit through faith, and is expressed through works of faith (acts of love... faith put into action) .

"This is a different kind of works -- not the kind that comes from ourselves and our self-effort." Likening works to planted seeds that grow and bear fruit, Fr. David continued by pointing to Christ's parable of the sower in Matthew 13. The seed falling onto stony ground springs up, but without deep enough roots it withers away. Seeds need to put forth roots, shoots, and fruits. Likewise, our faith is meant to be the resource for our works: our works are meant to come forth from our faith in God. Our works cannot save us in themselves, but are effective only when they are motivated by and rooted in our faith (fruit that is borne in a cooperative effort with God).

James shows us what happens when the seed of salvation falls on good soil (when it is invested with faith). His position is, "You can't show me faith without works because works are the natural fruit of faith, like the fruit of the Spirit."

So it really isn't a case of "either/or", but a case of "both/and", Fr. David concluded. "We're compelled to faith-filled action through a heart set upon our Father God, an openness to the Holy Spirit, and faith-filed love and thankfulness to Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. The answer to the question "faith or works?" is answered with the faithful devotion and living application of faith AND works."

NOTES: A special collection is being taken for Shane Gormley through the end of the month. Shane is currently studying for the priesthood at Nashotah House seminary in Wisconsin. To contribute, use one of the special envelopes available at church.

When a friend dies: Grief + responsibility

2009-09-04T10:55:00.003-05:00

A friend of mine -- a former co-worker -- died this week. She'd battled lung cancer for a year and a half, successfully, as it turned out, but there were a host of other health complications that dealt her a war on too many fronts. She was 63.

My friend was baptized into the Roman Catholic Church but lived a resolutely secular life. A slot machine was present at the funeral parlor to celebrate her favorite pastime of casino gambling. She always wore a diamond ring on every finger, loved to buy clothes (being a size zero, everything looked great on her), had a colorful vocabulary and was quick with a salty joke.

We all loved her.

While fighting her health war, she refused to take time to plan a funeral (that would be giving in) but did say she'd feel like a hypocrite having a service in a church. Not that she didn't believe in God, just that she wasn't much of a churchgoer during her life.

In retrospect, what strikes me is that believers have a responsibility toward their unbelieving friends, and that the Lord will provide a way for each of us to share the Gospel with sensitivity and grace.

I am very thankful for another funeral service earlier this year (the father of another co-worker) where my friend was present. This was a believer's funeral and the pastor kindly but very clearly shared the Gospel message of salvation. On the way to our cars, my friend said several times how much she liked the message and the pastor. Later on, when she was ill, she said that she prayed but she preferred to do that by herself. When I was by her bedside for what later turned out to be the last time, her daughter was intent on keeping things upbeat, so I wasn't really able to say all I wanted to say.

I trust in her baptism, her willing hearing of the Gospel, and her renewed prayer life as evidence of her reconciliation with the Lord at the end of her life. But my story doesn't end there. On the day of my friend's funeral, her daughter asked if any of us wanted to say anything during the service. Everyone else said no, at which time I realized the Lord was offering me a responsibility to take.

Now, in half a century of living I have NEVER spoken at a funeral. And now I'd said yes, with virtually no time to prepare. A priest was present to conduct a short mass. He used all the scriptures I'd had in mind, except for one. So when it came my time to talk, I talked about how my friend enjoyed life as much as anyone I've ever known. That enjoyment is different from love. Love is sometimes enjoyable and other times an act of will that partakes of duty, but enjoyment itself is akin to thankfulness and that our friend went through every day enjoying every scrap of it: having an attitude of constant thanksgiving.

"Life here is short," I said, "but Life itself is very long. And we have a promise, which is that when we are absent from the body we are present -- immediately -- with the Lord, where every question of life that has ever troubled us will be answered." I finished by saying I knew our friend was enjoying this in the same way we all saw her enjoy her life here.

It wasn't the Four Spiritual Laws, but it was true both to my friend and to the word of God, and was as good as it was going to get with 20 minutes' prep time. The experience was difficult -- like tightrope balancing. How to tell the truth without placing one's self in the position of judge. Afterwards, everyone thanked me so I guess I did OK. Have you been in this postion? How did you handle it? I'm sure it's coming to all of us eventually, but I hope it doesn't come to me again, at least for awhile.

from: MATT KENNEDY at Standfirminfaith.com

2009-09-04T09:35:00.006-05:00

Bishop Ryle on the Deference given to False Pastors

Thursday, September 3, 2009 • 7:31 am

A couple of years ago I was engaged in a fairly heated argument on Stand Firm over the question of how to deal with false teachers in the church---the argument centered on passages from 1st Corinthians 5, Galatians 1 and 2nd John. It seemed to me then and it seems to me now that one weakness in contemporary Anglican circles that chronically leads us into trouble is an odd kind of clericalism that tends to disregard the effect of good or bad teaching on the congregational level. Some well meaning orthodox priests doggedly view priests who teach false doctrine as colleagues to be treated with deference--as persons with whom gentle and genteel dialogue and conversation is both desirable and necessary. Meanwhile, as the "conversation" drones on, the collared wolves devour their flocks and ruin the people in their care. But "the people" seem to be a secondary concern. What is most important is the "unity of the Church" which tends to mean: priests and bishops being nice to each other at meetings that they all attend.

This morning I ran across this passage from Bishop JC Ryle's commentary on the Gospel of John (chapter 10) while reading another blog. Bishop Ryle's comment serves as a helpful antidote to clerical toleration in the name of unity. You can read the entire commentary here.

Those who think that unsound ministers ought never to be exposed and held up to notice, and men ought never to be warned against them, would do well to study this passage. No class of character throughout our Lord's ministry seems to call forth such severe denunciation as that of false pastors. The reason is obvious. Other men ruin themselves alone: false pastors ruin their flocks as well as themselves. To flatter all ordained men, and say they never should be called unsound and dangerous guides, is the surest way to injure the Church and offend Christ.

Hat tip to the Pyromaniacs.

Thought for the Day: What Happens When the Church Loses Sight of the Bible?

2009-08-25T21:45:00.003-05:00

In this week's Thought for the Day, we have an article from the Boundless.org blog. In it, a Lutheran, Matt Kaufman, ponders the recent announcement from the Lutheran church supporting gay clergy. He wonders how the church lost its way so dramatically and concludes that "where they really went wrong was when they lost sight of the Bible." Check it out at:

"Losing Their Grip"

Church news, 8/23 ...Coming to Jesus!

2009-08-25T10:27:00.019-05:00

"No one can come to Jesus, unless..." was the title of Sunday's sermon. We spent some time filling in the blank after "unless" and soon realized that:

A. "No one can come to Me (Christ), unless the Father who sent Me draw him," John 6:44, or "unless it be granted him by the Father" John 6:65 and

B. "No one comes to the Father but by Me (Christ)," John 14:6.

"It seems like a closed loop or closed system," Fr. David said. "How can we possibly get in there?"

He explained that the Father desires all to 'be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth' (I Timothy 2:3,4). We know this deepest desire of God because He opened the Way of salvation by sending His Son Jesus Christ, to live with us, show us the Father and then die for us. All who receive Jesus and who believe in His Name, He gives the power to become children of God (John 1:12). "God staked the fulfillment of His Will on His Son; that the invitation provided in and through Jesus and His Death upon the Cross would be enough," Fr. David continued.

As we considered God's invitation to us (to come to Jesus and find salvation), we then turned to the consideration of the parable of the king's banquet found in the Gospel of Luke 14:16-24:

Then He (Jesus) said to him, “A certain man gave a great supper and invited
many, and sent his servant at supper time to say to those who were invited,
‘Come, for all things are now ready.’ But they all with one accord began to make
excuses. The first said to him, ‘I have bought a piece of ground, and I must go
and see it. I ask you to have me excused.’ And another said, ‘I have bought five
yoke of oxen, and I am going to test them. I ask you to have me excused.’ Still
another said, ‘I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.’ So that
servant came and reported these things to his master. Then the master of the
house, being angry, said to his servant, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and
lanes of the city, and bring in here the poor and the maimed and the lame and
the blind.’ And the servant said, ‘Master, it is done as you commanded, and
still there is room.’ Then the master said to the servant, ‘Go out into the
highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.
For I say to you that none of those men who were invited shall taste my supper.’”

Look at the extent to which God, the Father (banquet host) and God, the Son, Jesus Christ (the servant) went to accomplish a fruitful response to the invitation. The servant reached out, motivated people and even lovingly compelled them to respond so that they would not miss the great feast of salvation. It subsequently took at least some cooperation (faith and trust, with no excuses) from those invited for them to become members of the host's household and taste the great supper!

"The first step in coming to Jesus Christ", Fr. David continued, " is not as much about us or about our own efforts, but the awesome truth that the Father is drawing us, indeed inviting us, as He grants us every opportunity to come to Jesus". Fr. David continued with consideration of the second step of coming to Jesus, which is about our faith filled cooperation with the Father as we come to believe in Jesus as Son of God and Savior. "The second step is about our growing in faith in Jesus and thereby in communion with Him through the power of the Holy Spirit. And then in the third step in coming to Jesus, the Father grants us the status of being His children, beheld in union with His Son and prepared for being received in His Kingdom forever."

Summary: No one comes to Jesus unless God works on our behalf, which He is doing far more than many times we realize, and we cooperate with Him through faith, every step of the way, then we enter into everlasting communion with God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit!

NOTES: Our church picnic was held Sunday afternoon at the Sanders' home, where a blessed time was had by all. Thanks to the Sanders' for their hospitality and great grilling, and also to all who brought the ingredients for our delicious meal, and who shared their comradeship with us. In other news, Sue Eckert has been called to the ministry of Parish Treasurer.

Thought for the Day: Practical Self-Denial in a Materialistic World

2009-08-19T16:39:00.003-05:00

How attached are you to your "stuff"? In a post on the Boundless.org blog, David Barshinger examines the relationship between people and their belongings. We live in a material world, but our calling as Christians is to defer the material life to the spiritual one. How do we then balance the two without falling into legalistic excesses? Take a look at this week's thought for the day and let us know what you think:

"Just Stuff" by David Barshinger

Church news, 8/18

2009-08-17T17:42:00.005-05:00

It's one thing to know the Will of God, but another thing to understand it, Fr. David pointed out in this week's sermon. The sermon was based upon Ephesians 5:17 'Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.'

He said, "The will of God is summed up in the two 'greats' -- the Great Commandment and the Great Commission" . The Great Commandment: "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind", and "You shall love your neighbor as yourself"(Matthew 22:37-40). The Great Commission: "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations..."(Matthew 28:19-20).

"We know the will of God (at least in general terms), but we also need to understand it. So the larger question is, can we know the mind of God, even though we are finite and imperfect and God is infinite and perfect?" Fr. David asked.

For the answer, he directed us to I Corinthians Chapter 2:9-12, where St. Paul writes:

as it is written: “ What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man conceived, what God has prepared for those who love Him.” God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. For what person knows a man's thoughts except the spirit of the man which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is from God, that we might understand the gifts bestowed on us by God.

Paul makes a striking analogy: The human will is understood by the human spirit in the same way God's Will is understood by God's Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit understands the depths of God and transforms us into beings with renewed minds and hearts, willing to obey God's Will and also able to understand it (within the finite limits of our nature).

God wants us to know His Will through our getting to know Him better. God will certainly help us to understand His Will to the degree that we are willing to apply His Will. "If we are first willing to obey God, and then ask for His Will to be done in our lives, He will honor this," Fr. David explained. With our willingness to apply His Will affirmed, "Then we can do what King Solomon did, pray for wisdom. God will honor this. As we are learning to apply/do the Will of God (put His Holy purposes into practice in our lives), we'll come to understand His Will better in the process of living into His Will.

A further point was made: We need to be careful not to be self-serving as we seek God's Will. As we grow, we recognize that this is about God first and that understanding His Will is not a pursuit that is just for ourselves, but for the Church also. As we are willing to be vessels for God's Holy Will to be done in and through us, then the Holy Spirit will fill us more fully with renewal, power, and even understanding."

Indeed, we were reminded: as we 1) open to God spiritually, with 2) our minds being renewed through faith and with 3) our willingness to obey God's Will as we understand it and 4) as we pursue His Will not just for ourselves but for Him and His Church, then we will understand His Will, even coming to the place of having the 'mind of Christ' as stated in 1 Corinthians 2:16!

-------

NOTES: The Women's Book Group has chosen their next readings: Why Faith Matters by David Wolpe, the chapter on Mary Magdalene in Twelve Extraordinary Women by John MacArthur, and viewing of the Ben Stein documentary Expelled, which is about the Intelligent Design vs. Darwinism debate. The next meeting will be in October, date and place to be announced.

There will be two after-service events next Sunday, 8/23. During the fellowship hour there will be a half-hour video presentation on alternative "Green Houses" eldercare in which seniors live in a caring group home environment rather than a larger institution. Then we will adjourn to the Sanders', 3092 Culver Road, for a dish-to-pass picnic. Parking is available in Culver-Ridge Plaza, then just cross Ridge and walk north a few doors on Culver.

Thought For the Day: iMonk Post- "The Weight May Not Be A Sin"

2009-08-13T11:31:00.000-05:00

For this week's thought for the day, check out iMonk's post on the little things in our lives that are not necessarily sin, but hinder us in our Christian walk nonetheless. He asks us "to lay aside whatever may hinder us that is not a matter of repenting of sin, but of giving up what is not necessary, what distracts us and what makes it difficult to carry out the calling and mission of the church."

Check it out here.

Church News 8/4

2009-08-03T18:43:00.003-05:00

"The Nathan Ministry" was Fr. David's stirring sermon topic on an otherwise dark and rainy Sunday morning, Aug. 2.

Beginning with II Samuel 11:26-12:13a, we considered together the ministry of the prophet Nathan. Nathan took on the unenviable task of reproving and correcting King David after he caused Bathsheba's husband Uriah to be killed on a battlefield so that David could marry her and obscure the timing of her pregnancy with his child (which occurred while her husband was still living).

"How do we reach people going the wrong way on a one-way street?" Fr. David asked, pointing out that many make the mistake of doing this in an accusatory or condemning fashion, something that almost never achieves the desired result. What is needed is Nathan-like Ministry among us.

He pointed out that Nathan first told a story -- in this case, the story of a poor man whose only possession was a pet ewe lamb that he treated like his own child. This lamb would have eventually been the mother of a flock that would have provided the poor man and his family with wool, milk, cheese, and the ability to barter for family needs. But a rich man with many flocks decided it was easier to appropriate the poor man's lamb and kill it for a meal than one of his own.

The story made King David very angry. He said the rich man deserved to die but should at least give the poor man four lambs as punishment for his lack of pity. Then Nathan told him that he, David, was the same as the rich man -- someone to whom God had given everything but who took from Uriah first his wife and then his life. David's heart, mind and soul were reached and David recognized the serious depth of his sin, his despising of God, and he repented.

"People get to a place where they make excuses for their wrong behavior," Fr. David explained. "We all do it, and when we do we aren't honoring God as we should. It takes a Nathan to point this out in a direct but loving way." Through the gifts of the Holy Spirit, many of us are empowered with prophetic ministry, ministry such as Nathan exercised. As prophets do, Nathan didn't condemn King David himself, he pointed out what the Lord had to say about David's actions and David's consequential future.

"God's desire was to reach King David despite the terrible thing he had done. God judges but also forgives, " said Fr. David, "and as God's people, as God seeks to use us for the sake of others. As God moves us, we have a 'Nathan Ministry' to open to our neighbors the understanding of Christ's gift to us, that once our hearts are reached with God's Holy Truth and we truly repent, we are redeemed and cleansed in Him." Truly our souls long to be reached, opened, forgiven, and cleansed through this 'Nathan Ministry' and God seeks to reach hearts, minds and souls through this 'Nathan Ministry' working in our lives reaching others in God's Holy truth shared with God's holy love.

NOTES: The Vestry of the former All Saints has taken action to transfer the financial responsibilities of our church to the new Vestry and the new All Saints effective Aug. 2. We pray for God's blessings on our new church and the work of our new Vestry on behalf of our congregation.

Presiding Bishop's flawed thinking

2009-08-01T18:29:00.007-05:00

Click the title above which will bring you to a video on You Tube and then pray for the Presiding Bishop and the people she is misleading.
Now click the R.C. Sproul video (below) and behold the Christian Truth

Christ The Only Way - R.C.Sproul

2009-08-01T18:15:00.004-05:00

Please click this title to view this amazingly powerful video message

Women's Book Group 8/11

2009-07-31T06:50:00.000-05:00

The Women's Book Group will meet this Tuesday, August 11, at 7 pm at the McDonald's McCafe next to Ridgemont Country Club in Greece. Books to be discussed include Mudhouse Sabbath by Lauren Winner and Mean Girls by Hayley DiMarco.

Our God doesn't "dream"

2009-07-30T18:20:00.002-05:00

During the Sunday fellowship hour two weeks ago, the use of the phrase "God's dream" by the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church came up in conversation. It puzzled most of us and made at least one member's hair stand on end! The source quote is as follows:

We Christians often think the only important part of the Jerusalem story is Calvary, and, yes, suffering and killing in that place still seem to be the loudest news. But Calvary was a waypoint in the larger arc of God’s dream – it’s on the way to Jerusalem, it is not in Jerusalem. Jesus’ passion was and is for God’s dream of a reconciled creation. General Convention opening address, 7 July 2009, The Most Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori, Presiding Bishop and Primate

Indeed, according to the Episcopal Life Online news service, denominational President of the House of Deputies Bonnie Anderson, in addressing the ECW Triennial July 14, asked the rhetorical question, "Am I keeping my eye on the prize here? ...God's dream ... (in which) we are all in peaceful relationship with each other. We are whole and happy; the lions lie down with the lambs. There is enough to eat for everyone. (It's) the world as it should be -- a world reconciled, as God made it."

In all fairness to the leadership of TEC, the coinage preexisted their usage by some 35 years, making us surprised we hadn't heard it before. There's a lengthy analysis of "God's dream" in two posts on the blog Herescope that's well worth checking out. Here are just a couple of highlights.

The first use of "God's Dream" appears to be in the work of televangelist Rev. Robert Schuller: "He has a dream for your life and your church. He will reveal His dream by causing you to desire what He wants.…Listen to this dream, 'For it is God at work within you, giving you the will and the power to achieve His purpose'…," Schuller writes in his 1974 book, Your Church Has Real Possibilities.

Now, this use of the idea of God dreaming is... Californian, but not otherwise objectionable. Substitute a tougher noun like "plan" or "purpose" for "dream" and there's really nothing to bother a person. But while Schuller refers to God's "dream" for a person's life and ministry (over which the individual person still exerts free will), TEC leadership and others refer to God's "dream" for the world, and that takes on a whole different dimension.

This wider use of the phrase originates with Anglican Archbishop Emeritus of Cape Town Desmond Tutu: "God says to you, 'I have a dream. Please help me to realize it.' It is a dream of a world whose ugliness and squalor and poverty, its war and hostility, its greed and harsh competitiveness, its alienation and disharmony are changed into their glorious counterparts," he writes in God Has a Dream: A Vision of Hope for Our Time, 2004. This book includes a chapter titled "God Only Has Us", and this is where we start to feel a bit twitchy.

Let's deconstruct this a little, starting with the meaning of "dream". Merriam-Webster includes the following applicable definitions:

1: a series of thoughts, images, or emotions occurring during sleep
2: an experience of waking life having the characteristics of a dream: as a visionary creation of the imagination
4: a strongly desired goal or purpose.

We can rule out the first definition on the grounds that the great I AM lives in the eternal present and neither slumbers nor sleeps (Psalm 121:4). We can rule out the second on the grounds that there's no need for God to "imagine" a perfect world when it was originally created perfect (Genesis 1), which leaves us with "a strongly desired goal or purpose", a definition which seems to fit the use of the word "dream" by the Presiding Bishop, Dr. Anderson and Archbishop Tutu.

The definition begs the question, "If God strongly desires a certain goal or purpose, what prevents God from achieving that goal or purpose?" Archbishop Tutu would appear to answer with the claim that "God only has us." And that's where the problem arises.

We run into dangerous territory when we start to assume that Almighty God needs anything from us. We are reminded of this when John the Baptist warns those proud of their lineage, "from these stones God is able to raise up children to Abraham." (Luke 3:8). God created the laws of physics and nature but is not bound by them. Anything God wants for the world can and will be done with or without any "help" from us.

So what does it mean that the world isn't in an ideal state? It means that God is merciful. Cleaning up the world would mean getting rid of all its troublemakers, which means 100% of humanity would have to go. Even us. The world is as it is to teach us and to test us, but not to give us some sort of opportunity to do something God needs but can't accomplish independently.

Secularists enjoy saying that man created God in his own image. While humanity is, indeed, in God's image, this is an image in miniature. God's power is vast, God's ways unknowable, and to diminish the Almighty by claiming we are needed rather than just loved is profoundly disrespectful.

In God's Sovereign power, holiness, love and grace, Jesus -the very Son of God- offered up His Life to save us. This is not a dream, it is sacred reality for all who repent and believe. Alleluia!

Church News, 7/26/09

2009-07-28T21:54:00.011-05:00

Last Sunday, we joined the congregation of Reformation Lutheran Church for their Sunday morning service. Our own Father David was the guest speaker, with a message entitled "How Can What Little We Have... Ever Be Enough?"

In his sermon, Fr. David posed the question: "Will we ever have enough?" The answer, he said, was that "the jar is fuller than you think," in reference to the popular saying, "is the jar half full or half empty." The point of this saying, and of Fr. David's message, is that our attitude can greatly influence how happy or desperate we are. He quoted Pastor Chuck Swindoll about the importance and influential power of our attitude: "The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. ...I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it". David+ asked: "Do we approach the challenges in life with an attitude of crisis or opportunity?"

This is a daunting task, and we may be tempted to see our lives as a jar half empty rather than full enough. And there truly is no human solution. Rather, we rely on God's strength to carry us through the tough times. And we remember that "with God, small resources can be more than enough. We offer up what we do have, with thanks." As the story of the feeding of the multitude with a few loaves of bread and fish illustrates, God can make even a little become plenty and to spare. And so we must remember to have an "attitude of gratitude," trusting that God, in His wisdom, will take care of us. As Hudson Taylor, one of the first missionaries to mainland China, noted, "God's work done in God's way will never lack God's supplies." A day in the life of an ordinary person, spent well and with humble trust in God, is surely an expression of God's work. And so, as Fr. David reminded us, we should resolve that "with God's help, we will do our best." We will see over and over again that we will always have 'enough' as we learn to trust in God and His magnificent supply of resources.

A small group including members of All Saints and of Reformation then joined for a time of sharing which included refreshments. The discussion centered around reflecting upon the Lord's encouragement toward maintaining an attitude of trust in God as the present challenges of each congregation are being considered.

Church Activities Coming Soon:

The Women's Book Group will meet Tuesday, Aug. 4, 7 pm at the
  McDonald's McCafe, 3781 Ridge Rd. W. in Greece.
It's on the left, just beyond the Ridgemont Country Club and before 
  the intersection  with Rt. 386 (Elmgrove Road).
McDonald's?  Well, you probably haven't seen one like this: gas fire-
 place, flat-screen TVs, plus the usual great coffee drinks at all hours. 
Even if you haven't read the books yet (see 7/14 post at end for titles), 
 come join us!

Next Week's Sermon title:     8/2/09 
 The Nathan Ministry [2 Samuel 11:26---12:13a]

Thursday Thought For the Day: Stuff Christians Like #571

2009-07-23T16:57:00.011-05:00

The blog "Stuff Christians Like" is a tongue-in-cheek examination of the quirks and just plain bizarre beliefs and practices that Christians may or may not engage in. Post number 571 discusses the practice of: "using "we live in a fallen world" as an excuse not to do anything about it. "

As Christians, we are called to love others as God loves us. But how do we respond when the world's corruption and needs are overwhelming? We may believe that in this fallen world, there is nothing we can do to help that will really make a difference. Or we may be looking for an excuse not to work toward positive change, but to continue to focus solely on our own lives.

"...when God gave us His two greatest commands, love Him and love others as much as we love ourselves, He didn't say, unless you live in a fallen world. There was no caveat that gave us the freedom to give less than love if the world we're living in is less than perfect. If anything, a fallen world is a world that needs love the most."

Check out the original post at: http://stufffchristianslike.blogspot.com/2009/07/571-using-we-live-in-fallen-world-as.html or JUST CLICK THE TITLE OF THIS POST TO GO TO THIS SITE >>> .....(and then leave a comment with us back here at our church's blog to let us know your thoughts)

Church News, 7/21

2009-07-20T17:45:00.005-05:00

Sunday July 19 was made special by the presence of Leslie Ibezim's extended family as they observed a special blessing for Leslie, a custom of the Anglican Church in Nigeria. Leslie, a 2009 graduate of Gates-Chili High School, was named a member of the National Honor Society and a 2009 Black Scholar of the Urban League of Rochester. She will be attending the University of Rochester this fall as a pre-med student.

At the offertory, Leslie, her parents, Joseph and Gloria Ibezim, her brothers and sisters, uncle, aunt, cousins and other family members, came to the altar where they received a blessing in honor of Leslie's commencement and future. It was a special moment for all of us.

Fr. David's sermon, "The Foundation upon which the Church is being built", was based on Ephesians 2:11-22, in which Paul describes Christ as the cornerstone and the apostles and prophets the foundation of the "holy temple" into which we are all built, the Church.

"Without Christ as the cornerstone, there is no Church," Fr. David said, referring to I Corinthians 3:11, ""For no other foundation can any one lay than that which is laid down, which is Jesus Christ." He continued by cautioning that in many places the Church "is becoming progressively a work of man" rather than a true work of God as it is meant to be. He also raised the concern that today's consuming quest for "relevance" by some in the Church can only assure eternal irrelevance. We need to be praying for and caring for the souls who are being led astray from the true foundation of those Jesus authorizes according to His authority and His Word (Apostles and Prophets). He closed by urging us to let Christ be our LORD, and let us stand up for Him. For our Recessional Hymn we all sang 'Stand up, Stand up, for Jesus'.

NOTES: All Saints has been formally transferred from the Mukono Diocese of the Province of Uganda to the Diocese of the Holy Spirit under Bishop John Guernsey of the Anglican Church in North America. Praise the Lord! Parish administrative and financial responsibilities will be undertaken by the "new" church Vestry beginning August 2. The Vestry has elected Beth Sanders as the new Junior Warden and Tom Stone as the new Senior Warden.

Next Sunday, July 26, we will join our brothers and sisters of Reformation Lutheran in the upstairs sanctuary for worship at 10 a.m. Fr. David will be the guest preacher in a Service of the Word ( Holy Communion will not be offered ).

iMonk Post: God Isn't Gamey [thought for the day]

2009-07-16T18:33:00.006-05:00

A recent article by the blogger iMonk addresses an often discussed issue in Christian circles. He addresses the belief that “you need to pray until you find God’s will.” Granted, God must have a will. But what does it really mean to "find" God's will? Do we need to search and search to know exactly what God wants us to do with our lives? Or should we accept that God has put us where we are and with the abilities and resources that we have in order to serve Him in that place? I believe that iMonk's perspective relieves some of the pressure that Christians may feel regarding whether they have precisely determined God's will for their lives.

As iMonk says, "this is not a game I am going to play with God. I’m not cooperating with what amounts to saying “God is toying with us to see what we’ll do.” If God wants to say something to me, no game is necessary. And I am not required to demonstrate my desperation to know God’s will to know it. There may be places in my journey I need to be before God’s will unfolds, but God isn’t being gamey. He’s not playing hide and seek. He isn’t constantly dangling guidance in front of me like bait."

Take a look at the full article and let us know what you think-

http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/god-isnt-gamey-my-new-hot-button

Church news, 7/14/09

2009-07-13T17:13:00.007-05:00

As Voice-in-Wilderness becomes a more active blog, we're working out a schedule for regular weekly posts. For starters, every Tuesday we'll post a short summary of parish news, and on Fridays we'll offer some food for thought that could be an essay, a book review, or a link to another blog we like. Here's this week's church news:

On Sunday, 7/12, we welcomed newcomers and old friends along with our "regulars". Fr. David's sermon title was "Spiritual Truth v. Superstition and Fear". It was based on the account of the death of John the Baptist in the Gospel of Mark 6:14-29. Mark explains that as Jesus manifested miraculous powerrs to people, they had a superstitious reaction, "twittering" that this must be due to Elijah, or maybe John the Baptist back from the dead.

Herod Antipas, the ruler of Galilee and son of Herod the Great, went along with the superstitious crowd and was afraid as he concluded that this was the "reappearance" of John whom he was responsible for beheading. John had boldly told Herod the Truth that he was violating Jewish law to marry Herodias, the former wife of his brother Philip. Herod resented this criticism of his chosen lifestyle even though he knew John was a righteous and holy man and was telling the truth.

Herodias, an ambitious and ruthless person, eventually forced her husband to order John's execution in order to fulfil a frivolous promise made to her daughter in front of dinner guests. Rather than repenting and changing his lifestyle, Herod chose to follow through on his ill-founded oath. Paradoxically, by trying to appear as a man of honor to his guests, Herod behaved with complete dishonor. Yet for a time he felt he had "gotten away with it" -- his wife was pleased, he had managed to add luster to his reputation, and politically it was astute.

However, both Herod and Herodias forgot the universal truth that we are all in the presence of God at all times, and therefore there's no "getting away with". In less than 20 years, Herodias would goad Herod to travel to Rome and demand a kingship from Emperor Caligula. Caligula didn't care for the idea, exiling Herod and Herodias to France where they died a few years later. His superstition and fear about the power exhibited by Jesus had led Herod to deny spiritual truth and suffer dearly for it. Spiritual Truth and Peace are to be found in the presence of God which we enter through repentance of needing to 'have it our own way' and faith in God and having it His Way.... "The power of living," Fr. David concluded, "is in the presence of God."

NOTES: We'll worship with Reformation Lutheran in the upstairs sanctuary on Sunday, July 26th. Fr. David will be the guest preacher. On Tuesday, August 11th, the Women's Book Group will meet (details to follow). Books to be discussed include Mudhouse Sabbath by Lauren Winner and Mean Girls by Hayley DiMarco.

Growing Number of Anglican Leaders Support ACNA

2009-06-25T20:55:00.007-05:00

from the ACNA website:

More Anglican Leaders Join Supporters of the Anglican Church in North America

The leaders of three Anglican Provinces have recently joined a number of others formally supporting the Anglican Church in North America.

The Most Rev. Dr. Mouneer H. Anis, president bishop of the Episcopal/Anglican Province of Jerusalem and the Middle East wrote: “Our prayers are for you and for the new Province to continue to stand firm in faith as you have always done. May the Lord keep your unity in order to advance the gospel of Jesus Christ in North America!”
Also writing to offer support was the Most. Rev. John Chew, of the Province of Southeast Asia. “Today you are making a very historic and apostolic stand. Please be assured of our full and deep communion in the Lord”

On June 23, the House of Bishops of the Church of Uganda “resolved that it warmly supports the creation of the new Province in North America, the Anglican Church in North America, recognizes Bishop Bob Duncan as its new Archbishop, and declares that it is in full communion with the Anglican Church in North America.”

Archbishop Peter Jensen of the Diocese of Sydney and the Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans wrote: “I send my warmest greetings and congratulations to the new Anglican Province. We recognise that authentic Anglican brothers and sisters have come together in a wonderful new fellowship in the service of the Lord Jesus. We pray that your faithful witness to the gospel will prosper and that as you live under the authority of God’s word you will maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”

Support also came from England. Bishop Wallace Benn and Archdeacon Michael Lawson sent greetings on behalf of the Church of England Evangelical Council: “We wish you to know that we consider it a privilege given by God that we are joyful to be in full communion with you all. We are especially grateful for your unity expressed among Anglo-Catholic and Evangelical traditions, and recognise that this is in part a fruit of the Jerusalem Conference where the Primates present encouraged you to form a new and orthodox entity in North America. You are of course in fellowship with 80% of the Anglican Communion who share with us in the historic orthodox faith. It is for this reason that we call on many more of our brothers and sisters worldwide to affirm that they recognise the authentic marks of the Apostolic church and true Anglican identity in your witness,” they wrote.

Anglican Mainstream Convener, Philip Giddings, and Canon Dr. Chris Sugden wrote: “It has been our privilege to stand with you in fellowship and prayer…We rejoice to see the Lord’s hand of blessing on you witness as he adds daily to your number those who are being saved.”

Anglican leaders from around the world have welcomed the formation of the Anglican Church in North America. A total of nine Anglican provinces sent formal delegations to the Inaugural Assembly in Bedford June 22-25. Many others sent personal greetings to Archbishop Robert Duncan.

BREAKING NEWS

2009-06-23T17:35:00.006-05:00

The Church of the Province of Uganda officially recognizes the Anglican Church in North America

The Anglican Church of Uganda, through its House of Bishops, has today officially recognized the Anglican Church in North America and has transferred all their U.S. bishops, clergy and parishes to the ACNA, Bishop John Guernsey just announced to the ACNA Assembly in Texas. All Saints is now canonically within the ACNA. ALLELUIA! We give thanks for the Church of Uganda's place in our lives in holding us safely in the Lord until this day!

Our New Life and our continuing story...

2009-06-23T09:45:00.000-05:00

All Saints Anglican Church of Rochester

All Saints is moving forward as a newly incorporated church in New York State. We are technically a 'Free Church' that owns its own property and is free to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ and live under His Sovereign Authority and under the Authority of the Holy Scriptures.

We are a member congregation in the newly constituted and emerging church of biblical and orthodox Anglican Christianity named the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA). Glory to God: All Saints is alive and well!

In our past, the Episcopal Diocese of Rochester would not tolerate us as we sought to function true to the historic Christian Faith 'built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone' (Ephesians 2:20). In order to remain true to our conscience in Jesus Christ we could not conform or acquiesce any longer to a diocese that was clearly moving away from Scripture as it stridently marched forward as its own authority regardless of what the Bible says... As we stood up for the primary place of Holy Scripture as the Word of God and the authoritative guide in faith and practice in the Church, our congregation was excommunicated from the diocese and had the parish's property taken through a lawsuit against their, at one time, brothers and sisters. No, a campaign was waged against our parish and our members were rejected as 'renegades' because we, in good conscience would not cooperate with their false teachings and false representation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We had finally come to the agonizing truth: that we could do nothing else... we must stand up for Christ against all the odds, the sentiments, and the judgments against us. The diocese acted decisively against 'one of their own', evidently hoping that they would put us out of commission by declaring All Saints 'extinct'.

Well, by the grace of God and through the life-giving Truth of His Holy Gospel: All Saints is still alive and well to the glory of Almighty God! It can be said that in all of this we have experienced a bit of the amazing Reality of the power of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ!

Our new church meets in the downstairs Chapel at 111 N. Chestnut St. (at Reformation Lutheran Church) on Sunday mornings at 10 am. We meet for Worship in the wonderful and historic tradition of the Anglican Church as a body of believers in our Lord Jesus Christ. We seek to honor the Lord and worship Him in the 'beauty of holiness' Father, Son and Holy Spirit. We seek to reflect upon His Word: the Bible, during sermons that are based upon the Holy Scriptures from the Revised Common Lectionary. We seek to apply biblical truths to our ways of thinking and our ways of living. We believe that the true Gospel of Jesus Christ transforms our lives rather than leaving us 'as we were'... We want to help each other to grow in faith, genuine and life-changing Christian faith, through the work of the Holy Spirit guiding us into all Truth. We also seek to join with other Christians who long for these same awesome realities of the Christian Faith. We pray to help those who do not as yet know the saving and holy love of Jesus Christ to get to know Him and to love Him...

We have learned the importance in today's culture and in today's church of proclaiming that Jesus is the only way to the Father, the only way to salvation, for He is the Way, the Truth and the Life, and as He proclaimed: 'no one comes to the Father, but by Me' (John 14:6). The 'go your own way' churches cannot fathom this Truth spoken by our Lord Jesus, nor can they understand it, nor do they agree with it. Unfortunately, many so-called 'Christians', who proclaim inclusiveness without the need for transformation, will be learning the hard way what the genuine love of Almighty God is truly like. It is the absolute, holy, generous, forgiving, yet principled love of God in Jesus Christ:

who 'was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world knew him not. He came to his own home, and his own people received him not. But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God; who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.' (John 1:10-13)

Sadly, too many of us in this world are still rejecting Him, still do not really know Him and still, as yet, are not born of God through repentance and life-transforming faith in Him...

We, the members of All Saints, were hoping that we could help with the renewal of the church from within the Episcopal Church. We were hoping that our ministries of proclaiming the genuine, biblical Gospel of Jesus Christ by word and deed would be welcomed or at least tolerated by a self-proclaimed 'tolerant' church. We found the truth to be that our Lord Jesus was calling us forward to stand up for Him, even if it meant rejection and loss. We were resolutely rejected for standing up for historic, biblical Christianity. We began to understand that we were called to stand up for Jesus not only as Savior yet also as Lord - no matter the cost. In doing so, we realized His Promise that He would be with us even to the end of the ages to bless us, care for us, and grant us His New and Eternal Life. Nothing in all of life can compare with these blessings!

Now we keep praying to remain faithful to our Lord Jesus Christ and to His Holy Word, and 'run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God'. (Hebrews 12:1-2).

We offer our heart-felt thanks to all of our sisters and brothers in our Lord Jesus who have been praying for us that we would live on in Him and still be His Church. These are the people who supported us, praying that by the grace and power of Jesus -the forces being waged against the Holy Bible and the true Gospel would not be allowed to stop us- in the Name of Jesus Christ our Lord! Those prayers are being answered!
Praise and Glory to Jesus Christ: All Saints is alive and well! Amen.

2008-09-13T06:56:00.001-05:00

Church spat might head to Supreme Court - Rochester, NY - MPNnow

Church spat might head to Supreme Court

By Linda Quinlan, staff writer
Irondequoit Post
Fri Sep 12, 2008, 04:02 PM EDT

In a property dispute stemming from a rift with the Episcopal Church of America, the attorney for All Saints Anglican Church urged New York’s Court of Appeals Tuesday to set aside a previous decision from a lower court that essentially allowed the removal of the congregation from its longtime church building at 759 Winona Blvd. in Irondequoit.

It’s a case that might not be settled until it gets to the U.S. Supreme Court.

During court proceedings Tuesday, parish attorney Eugene Van Voorhis argued that secular state law — and not ecclesiastical canon — should govern the transfer of property in New York.

“All of the funds that bought the church, built the church, bought the land — all was donated by parishioners,” Van Voorhis said in court. “This has to do with legal principles ... It has nothing to do with doctrinal disputes.”

The point, Van Voorhis said Wednesday morning, is that the lower court applied religious canons — or law — rather than the secular laws of New York state to determine property ownership, and that is a violation of the U.S. Constitution’s first amendment regarding the separation of church and state.

Because the Episcopal Diocese of Rochester got a summary judgment from the Appellate Division courts, “the All Saints parish never got its day in court,” Van Voorhis added. “The real issue is whether All Saints held its property in trust for the diocese or not.”

With about 100 similar cases in courts around the country, Episcopal Diocese attorney Thomas P. Smith said the All Saints case appeared to be the first to reach a state’s top court. The Court of Appeals is New York’s highest court.

At issue is whether the parishioners who built the church own it, or whether they simply held it in trust for the Episcopal Church of the USA and the diocese under the national church’s 1979 Dennis Canons, Smith said.

“These were Episcopalians giving to an Episcopal church and not to a free church,” Smith said. “They’re free to leave and join the church of Uganda or wherever, but not take church property.”

Trial and mid-level appeals courts sided with the diocese, concluding it was entitled to the property under canon rules.

A rift developed between the Irondequoit parish and the Episcopal Church of the USA after the 2003 ordination of its first openly gay bishop, V. Gene Robinson of New Hampshire.

“That (ordination) was just a precipitating factor,” said the Rev. David Harnish, who is rector for All Saints. “We’re way beyond that now.”

There was no formal split until the Rochester diocese voted at a convention Nov. 19, 2005, to expel All Saints from the local Episcopal diocese.

“All Saints didn’t leave voluntarily,” Van Voorhis said.

“All along, the core issue really has had to do with whether we could be the church we were organized in 1925 to be for ministry and mission and not live under the threat of the diocese taking major punitive action against us,” Harnish said. “And, indeed, in 2005, hostile action was taken against us as a parish, while we have always just wanted to be faithful as a Christian church.”

Harnish notified the diocese about a month after the 2005 vote that the parish had been placed under the authority of Archbishop Henry Orombi of the Anglican Church of Uganda. It is now called All Saints Anglican Church and holds its worship services at 10 a.m. Sundays in the chapel at Reformation Lutheran Church, 111 N. Chestnut St., in downtown Rochester.

After what Van Voorhis calls “all the fuss and feather,” the diocese and All Saints congregation did agree to sell the Irondequoit church building, which is at the corner of Winona and Chapel Hill Drive.

The diocese subsequently sold the building to another Protestant denomination, Trinity Communion Church, for about $475,000. Smith said the diocese is holding the funds, depending on how the Court of Appeals rules.

If the Court of Appeals rules in favor of All Saints, the proceeds from the sale could come to the local congregation, which is already considering building a new church.

“We’re examining whether there’s a calling to be a more regional church or return to our Irondequoit roots,” Harnish said.

He said congregations like All Saints are combining now into what is called the Common Cause Partnership, The Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans, that is expected to lead toward a new Anglican church in North America that would be different from the Episcopal Church.

“What we’ve been involved in from the beginning is a true reformation of the church that’s emerging,” Harnish said.

Van Voorhis expects the Court of Appeals decision could take a couple of months. Regardless of the decision, both he and Brown agreed the case could eventually go to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Includes reporting by Michael Virtanen of the Associated Press. Contact Linda Quinlan at (585) 394-0770, Ext. 350, or at lquinlan@messengerpostmedia.com.

Gospel Conference 9/6/08

2008-08-18T04:26:00.034-05:00

Life-changing Power of the

Gospel of Jesus Christ

A Conference hosted by All Saints Anglican Church

Saturday Morning, September 6, 2008

Main Sanctuary at Reformation Lutheran Church

111 N. Chestnut St., Rochester, New York

A Church Leader from Africa comes to the U.S. to lead this Biblical Christian Conference on:

The Power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to Transform Lives

vs.

Challenges to the Gospel and Unchanged Lives

~~~

The Rt. Rev. Elia Paul Luzinda Kizito
Bishop of the Mukono Diocese
The Province of the Church of Uganda (Anglican)
The home diocese of All Saints Anglican Church

Life-changing Power of the Gospel

Conference Program:

8:30 am Gathering for refreshments and greetings in the Lord

The Conference will begin with a time of prayer & praise

9:00 am Bishop Luzinda shares his testimony to the trans-forming power of the gospel of Jesus Christ in people's lives as witnessed in Uganda

10:00 am Participants share the challenges they are experiencing to the gospel in the U.S. during a question & answer time with the bishop

11:00 am Time for refreshments and fellowship

11:25 am Encouragement and Equipping of those participants who seek to share the gospel and its transforming power

NOON Time of prayer & praise and a 'sending forth'

I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes… Romans 1:16

This conference is a time of fellowship, support, encouragement and equipping for those who are standing up for the Lord Jesus Christ and for those who believe in the transforming power of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Let’s join in the emerging reformation and renewal of the true Christian Church among brothers and sisters who believe in the Lord Jesus and who affirm the authority of the Bible in our lives.

IMPORTANT:

Please call and leave a message at All Saints at 342-1605 or (even better) e-mail us at allsaintsr@yahoo.com that you are planning to attend so that we can properly prepare for all those who will be participants. God bless you!

Those who would like to support this conference with a gift are encouraged to send their check marked ‘Gospel Conference’ to:

All Saints Anglican Church

P.O.Box 67824

Rochester, NY 14617

May our Lord Jesus Christ be glorified in what we share together!

2007-10-04T18:38:00.000-05:00

It is vitally important to remember what the 'Serious Theological Dispute' within the Anglican Communion --due to the innovations of the Episcopal Church--
is all about. It is about 'orthodoxy' !
The Anglican Communion still officially endorses orthodoxy as its mainstay. The Episcopal Church does not.
May the Lord have mercy upon the souls of those who are being misled...
in Jesus' Name. Amen.

OFFICIAL STATEMENT 9/29/07

2007-09-29T15:11:00.000-05:00

(after the Court of Appeals decision)

Although we have experienced material losses in the midst of the legal battles, we continue to experience great blessings amidst the spiritual battles for our Faith.

The people of All Saints Anglican Church remain committed to the stand in faith we are taking for Biblical Truth and for historic Christian values.

We continue forward in our new setting and with new life as a community of faith.

We join with fellow believers in what is emerging as a regional and global Christian Awakening Mission Partnership for the true Gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

new website!

2007-09-07T15:05:00.000-05:00

All Saints Anglican Church, Rochester, NY has a new web-site!
www.allsaintsrochester.org

Bs.John Guernsey's Consecration remarks

2007-09-05T19:47:00.000-05:00

Remarks by the Rt. Rev. John Guernsey
At his Consecration as a Bishop in the Church of Uganda
On 2nd September 2007
St. James Cathedral, Mbarara, Uganda

Mukama Asiimwe! Mukama Asiimwe! [Praise the Lord!]

I want to thank the Archbishop and the Bishops of the Church of Uganda for this surprising call. When I first came to Uganda in 1989, little did I know that one day I would become a priest in North Kigezi Diocese - what a blessing that has been! - and then be consecrated a bishop in the Church of Uganda. But God's thoughts are not our thoughts and His ways are not our ways!
I give thanks and praise to the Lord Jesus Christ who saved me when I was a young boy. I was born to Christian parents, but by the grace of God I came to understand that the faith of my parents was not enough. I needed to turn to Jesus Christ for myself. I put my trust in Him and I was born again, and by His mercy I have walked with Him ever since.
There are now 33 Church of Uganda congregations in the U.S. I want you to know of the profound gratitude which these churches have for the protection offered by the Church of Uganda. We praise God for Archbishop Orombi and the House of Bishops, who have paid a high price as they have stood firm for the Gospel and reached out to love and care for faithful Anglicans in America. And now they have taken this step of providing a bishop there in the U.S. to give oversight to these parishes on behalf of their bishops here in Uganda.
As I begin this ministry, the Lord has impressed upon me three priorities, three hallmarks of the Church of Uganda ministry in the U.S.
The first priority is prayer. Jesus said in John 15, "Apart from me you can do nothing." Everything we do must flow from an intimacy with Jesus Christ born out of prayer. It is in prayer that we are nourished in relationship with the Savior. It is in prayer that we hear the Shepherd's voice so that we may follow Him. It is in prayer that we are empowered by the Holy Spirit to do His work. Everything we do must be rooted in prayer.
The second priority is mission. "As the Father has sent me," Jesus said, "so I send you." Our churches in America are committed to the truth and authority of the Scriptures, but we can only truly claim to be faithful to the Bible if we are missionary churches. We must proclaim Jesus-both His unconditional love and acceptance, and also His transforming power to set us free and make us new. He heals all our brokenness. He redeems all our sin. That is the Good News we share. I thank God for the East African Revival, which has brought salvation and transformation to countless thousands not only here in this region, but throughout the world. I pray that the fire and fruit of revival will come to the United States, where so many are lost and are, as the Apostle Paul said, "without hope and without God in the world." And I especially pray that we will be faithful in reaching young people, equipping and empowering them to do the work of ministry in the next generations.
The third priority is unity, the true unity which is found only in the person of Jesus Christ. We have too often seen in the U.S. a counterfeit unity around human institutions. But it is in Jesus, the only Savior, the only Lord, that we unite as sinners saved by grace.
Archbishop Orombi has made clear that in the U.S. the Church of Uganda seeks to join with all the faithful to build a biblical, united missionary Anglicanism in America. We are deeply thankful for the partnership in the Gospel which we have with the Provinces of the Global South. And I praise God for the courage and humility of Bishop Bob Duncan of Pittsburgh, who boldly leads the orthodox Anglicans in America and who points us to Jesus, whose shed blood makes us one.
The verse which the Lord gave to me many years ago for my life and ministry is 2 Corinthians 4:5: "We preach not ourselves but Jesus Christ as Lord and ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake." May the ministry of the Church of Uganda in the United States always be a ministry of servanthood, seeking only to glorify Jesus Christ.
All praise and honor be to Jesus, this day and always.
Mukama Asiimwe!

ALL SAINTS ANGLICAN CHURCH

2007-01-11T16:53:00.000-05:00

All Saints Anglican Church

is meeting at:

111 N. Chestnut Street

in the Chapel

You may contact us at:

>>>P.O. Box 67824<<<

Rochester, NY 14617

>>>(585) 342-1605<<<

>>>allsaintsr@yahoo.com<<<

We are a Bible-based parish in the

orthodox Anglican traditions of our Christian Faith

Come join us on Sunday mornings

to worship Our Lord in the Beauty of Holiness!

HOLY EUCHARIST is celebrated at 10 am

May you enjoy singing hymns led by Allen Walck, Jr.

and sermons that encourage us to grow in faith

and to apply biblical principles to our lives

all during the Celebration of Holy Eucharist according to the

historic Faith and Order in the Anglican Communion

1928 Prayer Book

We would love to have you come and join us

as we take our stand together for the Lord Jesus Christ

and the Authority and Importance of the Bible: His Holy Word!

May we raise One Voice in prayer, praise,

worship and witness of our Lord Jesus Christ!

We are an affiliate parish of the American Anglican Council

and an Anglican Communion partner parish

in the Anglican Communion Network of Dioceses and Parishes

under the Ecclesiastical Authority of the Church of the Province of Uganda,

the Most Rev. Henry Luke Orombi, Archbishop of Church of Uganda

in the Mukono Diocese

with The Rt. Rev. Elia Paul Luzinda Kizito as our Bishop

MAPS and DIRECTIONS

North Chestnut Street is within the INNER LOOP

in DOWNTOWN Rochester

Diagonally across from the Eastman Theatre

at the corner of Pleasant St. and N. Chestnut St.

All Saints meets at the chapel at 111 N. Chestnut St.

in the buildings of Reformation Lutheran Church

December 9th CONFERENCE

2006-11-18T20:20:00.000-05:00

Conference for Christian Believers
~ all those who are concerned about or being impacted by the ~
Crisis in the Church

“Crisis in the Episcopal Church:

what the Spirit says to the churches”

‘He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.'
Revelation 2:7, 11 , 17 ,29 and 3:6, 13, 22

Saturday morning, December 9th, 2006
9:00 o'clock in the morning until noon

at
Bethel Christian Fellowship
321 East Avenue
Rochester, New York

Keynote Speaker: The Rev. Douglas Taylor-Weiss
Rector of Saints Peter and John Episcopal Church in Auburn, New York.

Fr. Doug was present at the 2003 General Convention of the Episcopal Church when it made its communion-rending decisions which affected the world-wide Anglican Communion. He will help us reflect upon the theological and practical ramifications of the widening crisis in the Church.

with
A Panel consisting of senior pastors

(Anglican, Episcopal, and Lutheran)

will reflect on hearing the Spirit in their respective Christian communities:

The Rev. David J. Harnish, All Saints Anglican Church, Rochester, N.Y.
The Rev. Michael H. Lubas, Reformation Lutheran Church, Rochester, N.Y.
The Rev. Douglas Taylor-Weiss, Saints Peter and John Episcopal Church, Auburn, N.Y.
The Rev. Arthur W. Ward, Jr., St. Bartholomew’s Church (Episcopal), Tonawanda, N.Y.

There will be a Question and Answer period during the Panel Discussion time.

~~~~~ ~~~~~
Conference Sponsor:

All Saints Anglican Church

Rochester, New York

Celebrating their one year anniversary of new life within the Anglican Province of Uganda 11/19/2006

2006-09-27T21:32:00.000-05:00

ANGLICAN PRESS RELEASE 9/28/06

All Saints Anglican Church, Irondequoit, New York

All Saints Anglican Church of Rochester, NY:

Evicted, yet Moving Forward

A summary judgment of the NY State Supreme Court was issued on September 13, 2006 in favor of the Episcopal Diocese of Rochester forcing All Saints Anglican Church out of its church buildings at 759 Winona Boulevard in Irondequoit. A final decision awaits the outcome of an appeal, which is currently being taken from this judgment.

In loving generosity and Christian hospitality, the people of Reformation Lutheran Church have offered a place for All Saints’ ongoing life and worship. The Christian reality of faith in the Risen Lord Jesus Christ continues to be celebrated and witnessed by the members of All Saints.

The Rev. David Harnish has stated:
The church is its people and not the buildings where they worship, truly even “the powers of death shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18). The Christians of All Saints Anglican Church are indeed alive and, like the first Christians, they are finding strength through meeting in home groups and moving ahead in faith.

All Saints, where people are warmly welcomed, is in communion with the Anglican Church of Uganda. The congregation will be building on this international mission partnership with the people of Uganda, as well as sharing in local and regional ministries in upstate New York. All Saints seeks to join with fellow believers across denominational boundaries in promoting the primary place of the Bible as the traditional Christian guide for living and authority on matters of faith.

We welcome all those who would like to gather with All Saints Anglican Church for worship, prayer and witness at 10 a.m. Sundays in the chapel at 111 N. Chestnut St. which is housed in Reformation Lutheran Church buildings.

May the genuine Christian faith, based upon the Holy Bible, come into greater strength and vitality in the lives of today’s believers. It is time to stand up for Jesus!

On behalf of the People of All Saints Anglican Church,
The Rev. David J. Harnish, Rector

Contact All Saints at: allsaintsr@yahoo.com
or P.O. Box 67824, Rochester, NY 14617
blogsite: http://voice-in-wilderness.blogspot.com/

~~~~~
Support through prayers, letters of encouragement and financial gifts offered to God may be sent to:
All Saints Anglican Church, P.O. Box 67824, Rochester, NY 14617

…and would be greatly appreciated.

Gaining vision in the wilderness

2006-07-21T06:34:00.000-05:00

May we pause... and reflect amidst our prayerfulness in these days. Is not all that is happening truly the birth pangs of the latter days? Do we sense the internal groanings in our minds, our hearts and bodies ...and even our souls?

'We know that the whole creation has been groaning in travail together until now; and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.' Romans 8:22-25 (RSV).

Let us take heart... and all the more as we see the Day drawing near. Let us look up... for our Salvation is drawing near! Let us lift up our drooping hands. Let us not allow our knees to be put out of joint. Let us not neglect to meet together as is the habit of the faithful (especially in times such as these).
We need to hear and listen to the voice of our Lord - tuning in more carefully, prayerfully - especially in these days when the Word of the Lord is scarce amongst so many...
May our Lord Jesus touch your heart and open you to Him for renewal: This Day... while there is still daylight!

Voice-in-Wilderness: ALL SAINTS ANGLICAN CHURCH __ Rochester, NY__

Some Notes From Today's Sermon: 1/29/2012

Anglican 1000 Replanting Biblical Anglicanism in North America

Archbishop’s State of the Church Address: Provincial Council 2011 (excerpts)

PHOTOS of the Installation of Bishop Roger Ames

Moving into a NEW DIOCESE!

Lenten Focus: Worship and becoming spiritually alive!

A Peek At Last Week's Offertory Hymn: 2/20/11

Thought For the Day: Our God is the Source of all Healing

Thought for the Day: Be Comforted- The Lord Is Always With You!

Merry Christmas!

The Sacramental Nature of All Things

Musings on the Sacrament of the Eucharist

Thought For the Day: 11/26/10

Another Thought For the Day!

Thought For the Day: 11/21/2010

Thought for the Day: God Loves and Blesses Those Who Trust in Him!

Oct. 10: Enduring for the Sake of Fellow Believers

Thought for the Day: October 3, 2010

Sept. 26: Final Retribution: Heaven or Hell?

How's your religious knowledge?

Thought for the Day: September 27, 2010

Sept. 12: God's perfect patience and mercy are meant to reach us

Off message?

Are churches creating "fake Christians"?

August 15: The ACTION of Living by Faith

Some words of encouragement

8/1/10: Today's Sermon (based on Colossians 3:1-11) Having a Heavenly Focus

BEING ESTABLISHED IN THE FAITH

All Religions Are Not the Same, and Why It Should Matter, Even to the Secular World

A Thought-Provoking Study Challenges Christians' Beliefs About Worship

Church news, 4/1: "Passion Week"

Thoughts on Prayer

Church news, 3/5: "Stand firm in the Lord even when some live as enemies of the Cross"

Thoughts on Liturgy and Its Effect Upon Our Walk

Thought for the Day: Getting Real About the Bible

Thoughts on Communion

Church news, 2/3: "God has known you and consecrated you from your beginning"

Church news, 1/15: "I must be about my Father's business"

Thought for the Day: "Air-Conditioning Hell"

Sunday, January 10, 2010 Announcement- Important!

A New Year's Message from iMonk

Church news, 12/30: "Beholding the glory of God's own Son"

Church news, 12/21: "Blessed is Mary, the mother of our Lord"

"Forgive us... as we forgive..."

Church news, 11/30: "Living in the kingdom of Christ the King"

Church news, 11/21: "Hannah -- Blessings through perseverence and prayer"

Church news, 11/13 -- "Ruth, Dedication and Steps of Faith"

Thought for the Day: Refocus

Church news, 10/28: "Job -- Knowing God with heart and soul"

Church news, 10/21: Job questions, God answers

For your bookshelf: Robert Farrar Capon

Church news 10/7: "Job: the Battle for the Soul"

Thought for the day: Atheism, part 2

Thought for the Day: Atheism

Church news 9/29: "Offering prayers of faith"

Thought for the Day: How Far is Too Far?

Church news, 9/20: "Stop the Warring Madness!"

Spirit vs. body or spirit AND body?

Church News: September 15, 2009

Thought for the Day: How Do We Respond to Those Who Ask Us How We Can Believe In Something that Can't Be Proved?

Church news, 9/8: Faith without works is dead

When a friend dies: Grief + responsibility

from: MATT KENNEDY at Standfirminfaith.com

Bishop Ryle on the Deference given to False Pastors

Thursday, September 3, 2009 • 7:31 am

Thought for the Day: What Happens When the Church Loses Sight of the Bible?

Church news, 8/23 ...Coming to Jesus!

Thought for the Day: Practical Self-Denial in a Materialistic World

Church news, 8/18

Thought For the Day: iMonk Post- "The Weight May Not Be A Sin"

Church News 8/4

Presiding Bishop's flawed thinking

Christ The Only Way - R.C.Sproul

Women's Book Group 8/11

Our God doesn't "dream"

Church News, 7/26/09

Thursday Thought For the Day: Stuff Christians Like #571

Church News, 7/21

iMonk Post: God Isn't Gamey [thought for the day]

Voice-in-Wilderness: ALL SAINTS ANGLICAN CHURCH Rochester, NY